“I have indeed to thank you most heartily—most cordially—for the kindness and favour of your review of ‘Eugene Aram.’ I know that I thank you for a sincere opinion, however private friendship may have contributed to form its substance, and mould its expression, and this gives me a double pleasure—that of the publicity of your praise, and that also of its private sincerity.
“I was greatly surprised to see that the ‘Court Journal’ had obtained the book in sheets, as I had meant any little use derivable for an early copy solely for you. I am glad you like the unity of the story, and the scenes in the third volume, for they are the result of more care over my natural faults of composition than any other qualities in the work.
