ut half of
that income. He also was intimate after his fashion with Lady Carbury,
whose diligence in making and fostering useful friendships had been
unwearied. Her letter to Mr Alf was as follows:

DEAR MR ALF,

Do tell me who wrote the review on Fitzgerald Barker's last poem.
Only I know you won't. I remember nothing done so well. I should
think the poor wretch will hardly hold his head up again before
the autumn. But it was fully deserved. I have no patience with the
pretensions of would-be poets who contrive by toadying and
underground influences to get their volumes placed on every
drawing-room table. I know no one to whom the world has been so
good-natured in this way as to Fitzgerald Barker, but I have heard
of no one who has extended the good nature to the length of
reading his poetry.

Is it not singular how some men continue to obtain the reputation
of popular authorship without adding a word to the literature of
their country worthy of note? It is accomplished by unflagging
assiduity in the system of puffing. To puff and to get one's self
puffed have become different branches of a new profession. Alas,
me! I wish I might find a class open in which lessons could be
taken by such a poor tyro as myself. Much as I hate the thing from
my very soul, and much as I admire the consistency with which the
'Pulpit' has opposed it, I myself am so much in want of support
for my own little efforts, and am struggling so hard honestly to
make for myself a remunerative career, that I think, were the
opportunity offered to me, I should pocket my honour, lay aside
the high feeling which tells me that praise should be bought
neither by money nor friendship, and descend among the low things,
in order that I might one day have the pride of feeling that I had
succeeded by my own work in providing for the needs of my
children.

But I have not as yet commenced the descent downwards; and
therefore I am still bold enough to tell you that I shall look,
not with concern but with a deep interest, to anything which may
appear in the 'Pulpit' respecting my 'Criminal Queens.' I venture
to think that the book,--though I wrote it myself,--has an
importance of its own which will secure for it some notice. That
my inaccuracy will be laid bare and presumption scourged I do not
in the least doubt, but I think your reviewer will be abl