'Messrs. Smith and Elder were not disposed to publish the MS.,' and,
instead, he took out the envelope a letter of two pages. He read it,
trembling. It declined, indeed, to publish that tale, for business
reasons, but it discussed its merits and demerits so courteously, so
considerately, in a spirit so rational, with a discrimination so
enlightened, that this very refusal cheered the author better than a
vulgarly expressed acceptance would have done. It was added, that a
work in three volumes would meet with careful attention."

Mr. Smith has told me a little circumstance connected with the
reception of this manuscript which seems to me indicative of no
ordinary character. It came (accompanied by the note given below) in a
brown paper parcel, to 65 Cornhill. Besides the address to Messrs.
Smith & Co., there were on it those of other publishers to whom the
tale had been sent, not obliterated, but simply scored through, so that
Messrs. Smith at once perceived the names of some of the houses in the
trade to which the unlucky parcel had gone, without success.


[_To Messrs. Smith and Elder_]

"JULY 15th, 1847.

"Gentlemen--I beg to submit to your consideration the accompanying
manuscript. I should be glad to learn whether it be such as you
approve, and would undertake to publish at as early a period as
possible. Address, Mr. Currer Bell, under cover to Miss Brontë,
Haworth, Bradford, Yorkshire."