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34 Great King Street
Edinburgh

10th June 1926

My dear John

Ever so many thanks for
your letter. I can't tell you how pleased
and encouraged I am by it. I am indeed
proud that an expert like yourself should
think that the style of the book is good, but
I am not a "master" of it as you too kindly
credit me with being. The toiling
journeyman is the suitable word; mere
grammar is an almost insuperable difficulty
with me. I was brought up to stand on
my legs and spout, and though I've never
got much out of it for myself, I think
I could do that with most men: but I
can't write - or only on a few given subjects
and with pain and tribulation on them.

I am very glad you like the Essays, and
think the first and last - which are the best, do say