My dear Miss Smith,

I am delighted to hear that the rest of the Websters is en route. I find that I never get a book parcel given out on a Monday morning, so I am not at all uneasy at not having received it at the same time as the letter, though I feel rather baulked of my afternoon’s pleasure. My mother and I have most thoroughly enjoyed these first seven chapters, which she thinks ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith,

Thanks for the continuation, some of which we like very much, but I have a good deal to say about it, which is all the easier to do, as you tell me you were thinking of making some alterations in the re writing. First - to begin with what struck us in its order. Grandpapa’s account of his own youth is a little dull and I do not think his history of ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith,

I have been so much taken up that I could not answer your letter sooner, and thank you for the way you have taken it. I am amused at the ordeal you are undergoing. I never met with anything like it, except once, when going with a cousin to luncheon with a connection of hers, she was addressed with ‘Anne, why could you have lent us Abbeychurch. Those games! And that mother!’ ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith,

Many thanks for your scrupulous honesty. The Websters are safe come, and I will write about them as soon as I can, but perhaps there may be a little delay - as I am going out for the whole day today, and we have a friend staying with us, so I may not have time to read or write this week.

I am very glad to see them however - and look forward ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith

I did not write about the last part of the Websters as you kindly said you would take silence for an acknowledgement, until I had finished them, as I did last night, having been hindered by many interruptions.

We have been much interested in them, and think great part very good [sic] - Grace and Harold, and the early part of George and Grace especially, but somehow the parts do not perfectly ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith

Thank you, I think this is very satisfactory, and that all the part about old Mr Webster is quite in your best style - and the contrast between the brothers excellent. Mr Webster certainly has his deserts, and one is comforted by his tardy appreciation of George. I am glad Harry’s Confirmation did go off, though by the by, you have not made the corresponding alteration in the account of his death[.] ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith, Many thanks for your kind answer, I think these ladies’ biographies will be very nice work to do together, and I believe that to look into real life minutely is the best school for one’s own mind or for fiction. If I write nothing but fiction for some time, I begin to get stupid, and to feel rather as if it had been a long meal of sweets - then history is ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith I am sure it is due that you should have the reading of this letter and the administration of the £10 as you must know much better how to reach the destitute families than I do, and the donor will I am sure be well pleased to hear it is in the hands of Frances Dysart’s author. If you will be so kind as to undertake it, I will write to her ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith,

I think your answer is a very wise one, and quite what I can understand. I am sure with all the poor I have known unusual help unless on some very pressing occasion would be anything but really beneficial, but the three old couples might be most happily provided, and I hope Mrs Elphinstone may choose that way of spending the sum. I will put what you say before her, thank you ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith

I have all but finished Mrs Grant and most interesting she is. Many many thanks for her. I am not sure whether she is not a little too long, to be in thorough proportion with the others, and if I find it so, perhaps I may have to take out a few of the letters that relate less directly to her personal history, but certainly not the American ones. What an old ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith,

I send you an order for the chapters of the Thorne that have appeared- also another to correct. I think people like it much - your neighbour Miss Wilford was talking about it yesterday she is staying with her aunt at St Cross, and I am always much tempted to betray you

yours sincerely

C M Yonge

The Order is payable to Ann Smith - more names always cause blunders

My dear Miss Smith

I found your MS here yesterday on my return from a two months expedition into Yorkshire and Devonshire. I think it is a pretty bright description, and the history of the contending organs is very entertaining, the only pity is that it is too late for December. I hope you have had a chapter of the Thorne. I find it is much liked and I am glad to see you in the ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith,

You must have begun to wonder if the Indian £10 was coming I am sure I did, but here it is at last, in good time I hope. It seems that Mrs Elphinstone has been very ill, and that has prevented her from sending it sooner. I will write to her to acknowledge it as soon as I have heard from you. I am glad to see your three Ks in the ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith

I enclose a cheque for the amount of the Banks of the Thorne that has gone in this time, and I think has been very much liked.

I have had an offer of Mrs Sherwood’s Life from a person who can get at something about her privately so I thought you would not mind my accepting it, as a little beyond a published memoir is such a gain.

You see the Packet is flourishing ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith,

I think this story is one of the most complete you have yet done. Mr Franklyn’s self debates are excellent, and dear little Mary beautiful, the wicked part very touching By the by you should do something with the /Michaels mother. She must be mentioned somehow- on his return, or else have died. I think if she had, she would be a great riddance out of Victoria’s way, and besides ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith,

I am half afraid of plunging into a tour because I have got so many on hand, that Eastern journal is indeed printed to the end, but I cannot get it in, and the Journal in Holland lingers on, and I have some Italian letters that I grieve not to have got in, so on the whole I think I had better decline yours, though if I had not been so ‘furred ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith

In great haste, I enclose £10 for this half year’s Thorne

yours sincerely

C M Yonge

My dear Miss Smith

Here are two chapters to make up for the having missed one out last time. I was obliged to do so, for I had the wrong proof with me when I was from home, and had to wait till I could get at the proof of the first.

I believe I told you of our change of house. Our direction now is Elderfield, Otterbourn, [sic] Winchester

yours sincerely

C M Yonge

My dear Miss Smith

I have kept your French journal a terrible time, and I am sorry to say I cannot get it in after all. It is rather too much trodden ground, and even you cannot make it new enough. I think you will soon get a huge piece of the Banks of the Thorne to finish them with the year if possible, and then we begin on our new principles. I hope the enclosed ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith

I hope you will forgive me for leaving out a few bits of the Thorne in order to squeeze the rest into this year. I enclose what was omitted in case you wish to restore it to the book as a whole though I think the present opinion is that the story wants abridging. I have put what is for the M P in one parcel, what is returned to you in ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith I did not write yesterday as I had to go to Winchester, and besides my sister in law had not quite finished reading the M S. The part about Horace’s marriage I do like, and the softening, but I am very sorry you adhere to the early part - especially his father’s repeated wishes for his death. If you could only hear the horror of my mother and my sister in law ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith I so seldom see the paper that I did not know that this greatest sorrow that can befall one’s unmarried life had come upon you. It takes me back at once to ten years ago when I was tasting the same cup, and strangely enough there was the same connection between the sorrow and my first real success. How you must feel the change & the sorrow for others as well as ... continue reading