rs have great difficulties to contend with, before they can
succeed in bringing their works before the public. Can you give me
any hint as to the way in which these difficulties are best met? For
instance, in the present case, where a work of fiction is in question,
in what form would a publisher be most likely to accept the MS.?
Whether offered as a work of three vols., or as tales which might be
published in numbers, or as contributions to a periodical?

"What publishers would be most likely to receive favourably a proposal
of this nature?

"Would it suffice to _write_ to a publisher on the subject, or would
it be necessary to have recourse to a personal interview?

"Your opinion and advice on these three points, or on any other which
your experience may suggest as important, would be esteemed by us as a
favour."

It is evident from the whole tenor of this correspondence, that the
truthfulness and probity of the firm of publishers with whom she had to
deal in this her first literary venture, were strongly impressed upon her
mind, and was followed by the inevitable consequence of reliance on their
suggestions. And the progress of the poems was not unreasonably lengthy
or long drawn out. On April 20th she writes to desire that three copies
may be sent to her, and that Messrs. Aylott will advise her as to the
reviewers to whom copies ought to be sent.

I give the next letter as illustrating the ideas of these girls as to
what periodical reviews or notices led public opinion.

"The poems to be neatly done up in cloth. Have the goodness to send
copies and advertisements, _as early as possible_, to each of the
undermentioned periodicals.

"'Colburn's New Monthly Magazine.'

"'Bentley's Magazine.'

"'Hood's Magazine.'

"'Jerrold's Shilling Magazine.'

"'Blackwood's Magazine.'

"'The Edinburgh Review.'

"'Tait's Edinburgh Magazine.'

"'The Dublin University Magazine.'

"Also to the 'Daily News' and to the 'Britannia' papers.

"If there are any other periodicals to which you have been in the habit
of sending copies of works, let them be supplied also with copies. I
think those I have mentioned will suffice for advertising."

In compliance with this latter request, Messrs. Aylott suggest that
copies and advertisements of the work should be sent to the "Athenaeum,"
"Literary Gazette," "Critic," and "Times;" but in her reply Miss Bronte
says, that she thinks the p