LONGFELLOW

explaining that For many years, owing to the bad state of my eyes, and the extreme delicacy of the task, I have declined to sit in judgement on any poems submitted to me. I trust therefore that you will not think it unkind or uncivil in me if I fail to meet your wishes in respect to your 'Asphodels'; a very attractive title, almost sufficient in itself to make me swerve from my purpose... but saying that if he concedes in one case he must in another, and so on to the end of an endless chapter... but sending his best wishes for her success with the volume and that she will find a good publisher and a sympathetic welcome from the world of readers..., 4 sides 8vo., Cambridge, 7th March