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2.

are intended to convey, but he gets into
a closer touch with their author than is,
I think, possible by the perusal of any
treatise dealing with a single subject.
This is not, I believe, the common view;
and I have always been told that collected
Essays do not make good "sellers". But the
buying public are wrong in this as in many
other matters.

As regards the Essay devoted to my
poor self, I hardly venture to offer an
opinion. Who can judge of his own portrait?
I should dearly like to think it
true, but I fear it is far too favourable.
One observation I should like to make upon
it. You comment in the most flattering
terms upon my style, and in terms much less
flattering (but I fear only too true) upon
my grammar. I make no apology for its