Charlotte Bronte and Her Circle Part 40

'Feeling certain that from business reasons as well as from natural integrity you will be quite candid with me, I esteem it a privilege to be able thus to consult you.--Believe me, dear sir, yours respectfully,

'C. BELL.

'_Wuthering Heights_ is, I suppose, at length published, at least Mr.

Newby has sent the authors their six copies. I wonder how it will be received. I should say it merits the epithets of "vigorous" and "original" much more decidedly than _Jane Eyre_ did. _Agnes Grey_ should please such critics as Mr. Lewes, for it is "true" and "unexaggerated" enough. The books are not well got up--they abound in errors of the press. On a former occasion I expressed myself with perhaps too little reserve regarding Mr. Newby, yet I cannot but feel, and feel painfully, that Ellis and Acton have not had the justice at his hands that I have had at those of Messrs. Smith & Elder.'

TO W. S. WILLIAMS

'_December_ 31_st_, 1847.

'DEAR SIRS,--I think, for the reasons you mention, it is better to subst.i.tute _author_ for _editor_. I should not be ashamed to be considered the author of _Wuthering Heights_ and _Agnes Grey_, but, possessing no real claim to that honour, I would rather not have it attributed to me, thereby depriving the true authors of their just meed.

'You do very rightly and very kindly to tell me the objections made against _Jane Eyre_--they are more essential than the praises. I feel a sort of heart-ache when I hear the book called "G.o.dless" and "pernicious" by good and earnest-minded men; but I know that heart-ache will be salutary--at least I trust so.

'What is meant by the charges of _trickery_ and _artifice_ I have yet to comprehend. It was no art in me to write a tale--it was no trick in Messrs. Smith & Elder to publish it. Where do the trickery and artifice lie?

'I have received the _Scotsman_, and was greatly amused to see Jane Eyre likened to Rebecca Sharp--the resemblance would hardly have occurred to me.

'I wish to send this note by to-day's post, and must therefore conclude in haste.--I am, dear sir, yours respectfully,

'C. BELL.'

TO W. S. WILLIAMS

'HAWORTH, _January_ 4_th_, 1848.

'DEAR SIR,--Your letter made me ashamed of myself that I should ever have uttered a murmur, or expressed by any sign that I was sensible of pain from the unfavourable opinions of some misjudging but well-meaning people. But, indeed, let me a.s.sure you, I am not ungrateful for the kindness which has been given me in such abundant measure. I can discriminate the proportions in which blame and praise have been awarded to my efforts: I see well that I have had less of the former and more of the latter than I merit. I am not therefore crushed, though I may be momentarily saddened by the frown, even of the good.

'It would take a great deal to crush me, because I know, in the first place, that my own intentions were correct, that I feel in my heart a deep reverence for religion, that impiety is very abhorrent to me; and in the second, I place firm reliance on the judgment of some who have encouraged me. You and Mr. Lewes are quite as good authorities, in my estimation, as Mr. Dilke or the editor of the _Spectator_, and I would not under any circ.u.mstances, or for any opprobrium, regard with shame what my friends had approved--none but a coward would let the detraction of an enemy outweigh the encouragement of a friend.

You must not, therefore, fulfil your threat of being less communicative in future; you must kindly tell me all.

'Miss Kavanagh's view of the maniac coincides with Leigh Hunt's. I agree with them that the character is shocking, but I know that it is but too natural. There is a phase of insanity which may be called moral madness, in which all that is good or even human seems to disappear from the mind, and a fiend-nature replaces it. The sole aim and desire of the being thus possessed is to exasperate, to molest, to destroy, and preternatural ingenuity and energy are often exercised to that dreadful end. The aspect, in such cases, a.s.similates with the disposition--all seem demonized. It is true that profound pity ought to be the only sentiment elicited by the view of such degradation, and equally true is it that I have not sufficiently dwelt on that feeling: I have erred in making _horror_ too predominant. Mrs. Rochester, indeed, lived a sinful life before she was insane, but sin is itself a species of insanity--the truly good behold and compa.s.sionate it as such.

'_Jane Eyre_ has got down into Yorkshire, a copy has even penetrated into this neighbourhood. I saw an elderly clergyman reading it the other day, and had the satisfaction of hearing him exclaim, "Why, they have got --- School, and Mr. --- here, I declare! and Miss ---"

(naming the originals of Lowood, Mr. Brocklehurst and Miss Temple).

He had known them all. I wondered whether he would recognise the portraits, and was gratified to find that he did, and that, moreover, he p.r.o.nounced them faithful and just. He said, too, that Mr. --- (Brocklehurst) "deserved the chastis.e.m.e.nt he had got."

'He did not recognise Currer Bell. What author would be without the advantage of being able to walk invisible? One is thereby enabled to keep such a quiet mind. I make this small observation in confidence.

'What makes you say that the notice in the _Westminster Review_ is not by Mr. Lewes? It expresses precisely his opinions, and he said he would perhaps insert a few lines in that periodical.

'I have sometimes thought that I ought to have written to Mr. Lewes to thank him for his review in _Fraser_; and, indeed, I did write a note, but then it occurred to me that he did not require the author's thanks, and I feared it would be superfluous to send it, therefore I refrained; however, though I have not _expressed_ grat.i.tude I have _felt_ it.

'I wish you, too, _many many_ happy new years, and prosperity and success to you and yours.--Believe me, etc.,

'CURRER BELL.

'I have received the _Courier_ and the _Oxford Chronicle_.'

TO W. S. WILLIAMS

'_January_ 22_nd_, 1848.

'DEAR SIR,--I have received the _Morning Herald_, and was much pleased with the notice, chiefly on account of the reference made to that portion of the preface which concerns Messrs. Smith & Elder. If my tribute of thanks can benefit my publishers, it is desirable that it should have as much publicity as possible.

'I do not know if the part which relates to Mr. Thackeray is likely to be as well received; but whether generally approved of and understood or not, I shall not regret having written it, for I am convinced of its truth.

'I see I was mistaken in my idea that the _Athenaeum_ and others wished to ascribe the authorship of _Wuthering Heights_ to Currer Bell; the contrary is the case, _Jane Eyre_ is given to Ellis Bell; and Mr. Newby, it appears, thinks it expedient so to frame his advertis.e.m.e.nts as to favour the misapprehension. If Mr. Newby had much sagacity he would see that Ellis Bell is strong enough to stand without being propped by Currer Bell, and would have disdained what Ellis himself of all things disdains--recourse to trickery. However, Ellis, Acton, and Currer care nothing for the matter personally; the public and the critics are welcome to confuse our ident.i.ties as much as they choose; my only fear is lest Messrs. Smith & Elder should in some way be annoyed by it.

'I was much interested in your account of Miss Kavanagh. The character you sketch belongs to a cla.s.s I peculiarly esteem: one in which endurance combines with exertion, talent with goodness; where genius is found unmarred by extravagance, self-reliance unalloyed by self-complacency. It is a character which is, I believe, rarely found except where there has been toil to undergo and adversity to struggle against: it will only grow to perfection in a poor soil and in the shade; if the soil be too indigent, the shade too dank and thick, of course it dies where it sprung. But I trust this will not be the case with Miss Kavanagh. I trust she will struggle ere long into the sunshine. In you she has a kind friend to direct her, and I hope her mother will live to see the daughter, who yields to her such childlike duty, both happy and successful.

'You asked me if I should like any copies of the second edition of _Jane Eyre_, and I said--no. It is true I do not want any for myself or my acquaintances, but if the request be not unusual, I should much like one to be given to Miss Kavanagh. If you would have the goodness, you might write on the fly-leaf that the book is presented with the author's best wishes for her welfare here and hereafter. My reason for wishing that she should have a copy is because she said the book had been to her a _suggestive_ one, and I know that suggestive books are valuable to authors.

'I am truly sorry to hear that Mr. Smith has had an attack of the prevalent complaint, but I trust his recovery is by this time complete. I cannot boast entire exemption from its ravages, as I now write under its depressing influence. Hoping that you have been more fortunate,--I am, dear sir, yours faithfully,

'C. BELL.'

TO W. S. WILLIAMS

'_March_ 3_rd_, 1848.

'MY DEAR SIR,--I have received the _Christian Remembrancer_, and read the review. It is written with some ability; but to do justice was evidently not the critic's main object, therefore he excuses himself from performing that duty.

'I daresay the reviewer imagines that Currer Bell ought to be extremely afflicted, very much cut up, by some smart things he says--this however is not the case. C. Bell is on the whole rather encouraged than dispirited by the review: the hard-wrung praise extorted reluctantly from a foe is the most precious praise of all--you are sure that this, at least, has no admixture of flattery.

I fear he has too high an opinion of my abilities and of what I can do; but that is his own fault. In other respects, he aims his shafts in the dark, and the success, or, rather, ill-success of his. .h.i.ts makes me laugh rather than cry. His shafts of sarcasm are nicely polished, keenly pointed; he should not have wasted them in shooting at a mark he cannot see.

'I hope such reviews will not make much difference with me, and that if the spirit moves me in future to say anything about priests, etc., I shall say it with the same freedom as heretofore. I hope also that their anger will not make _me_ angry. As a body, I had no ill-will against them to begin with, and I feel it would be an error to let opposition engender such ill-will. A few individuals may possibly be called upon to sit for their portraits some time; if their brethren in general dislike the resemblance and abuse the artist--_tant pis_!--Believe me, my dear sir, yours sincerely,

'C. BELL.'

It seems that Mr. Williams had hinted that Charlotte might like to emulate Thackeray by ill.u.s.trating her own books.

TO W. S. WILLIAMS

'_March_ 11_th_, 1848.

'DEAR SIR,--I have just received the copy of the second edition, and will look over it, and send the corrections as soon as possible; I will also, since you think it advisable, avail myself of the opportunity of a third edition to correct the mistake respecting the authorship of _Wuthering Heights_ and _Agnes Grey_.

'As to your second suggestion, it is, one can see at a glance, a very judicious and happy one; but I cannot adopt it, because I have not the skill you attribute to me. It is not enough to have the artist's eye, one must also have the artist's hand to turn the first gift to practical account. I have, in my day, wasted a certain quant.i.ty of Bristol board and drawing-paper, crayons and cakes of colour, but when I examine the contents of my portfolio now, it seems as if during the years it has been lying closed some fairy had changed what I once thought sterling coin into dry leaves, and I feel much inclined to consign the whole collection of drawings to the fire; I see they have no value. If, then, _Jane Eyre_ is ever to be ill.u.s.trated, it must be by some other hand than that of its author.

But I hope no one will be at the trouble to make portraits of my characters. Bulwer and Byron heroes and heroines are very well, they are all of them handsome; but my personages are mostly unattractive in look, and therefore ill-adapted to figure in ideal portraits. At the best, I have always thought such representations futile. You will not easily find a second Thackeray. How he can render, with a few black lines and dots, shades of expression so fine, so real; traits of character so minute, so subtle, so difficult to seize and fix, I cannot tell--I can only wonder and admire. Thackeray may not be a painter, but he is a wizard of a draughtsman; touched with his pencil, paper lives. And then his drawing is so refreshing; after the wooden limbs one is accustomed to see pourtrayed by commonplace ill.u.s.trators, his shapes of bone and muscle clothed with flesh, correct in proportion and anatomy, are a real relief. All is true in Thackeray. If Truth were again a G.o.ddess, Thackeray should be her high priest.

'I read my preface over with some pain--I did not like it. I wrote it when I was a little enthusiastic, like you, about the French Revolution. I wish I had written it in a cool moment; I should have said the same things, but in a different manner. One may be as enthusiastic as one likes about an author who has been dead a century or two, but I see it is a fault to bore the public with enthusiasm about a living author. I promise myself to take better care in future. _Still_ I will _think_ as I please.

'Are the London republicans, and _you_ amongst the number, cooled down yet? I suppose not, because your French brethren are acting very n.o.bly. The abolition of slavery and of the punishment of death for political offences are two glorious deeds, but how will they get over the question of the organisation of labour! Such theories will be the sand-bank on which their vessel will run aground if they don't mind. Lamartine, there is not doubt, would make an excellent legislator for a nation of Lamartines--but where is that nation? I hope these observations are sceptical and cool enough.--Believe me, my dear sir, yours sincerely,

'C. BELL.'

TO W. S. WILLIAMS