Does he not too much confound benevolence with
weakness and wisdom with mere craft?
'But I must not intrude on your time by too long a letter.--Believe
me, yours respectfully,
'C. BELL.
'I have received the _Sheffield Iris_, the _Bradford Observer_, the
_Guardian_, the _Newcastle Guardian_, and the _Sunday Times_ since
you wrote. The contrast between the notices in the two last named
papers made me smile. The _Sunday Times_ almost denounces _Jane
Eyre_ as something very reprehensible and obnoxious, whereas the
_Newcastle Guardian_ seems to think it a mild potion which may be
"safely administered to the most delicate invalid." I suppose the
public must decide when critics disagree.'
TO W. S. WILLIAMS
'HAWORTH, _December_ 23_rd_, 1847.
'DEAR SIR,--I am glad that you and Messrs. Smith & Elder approve the
second preface.
'I send an errata of the first volume, and part of the second. I
will send the rest of the corrections as soon as possible.
'Will the inclosed dedication suffice? I have made it brief, because
I wished to avoid any appearance of pomposity or pretension.
'The notice in the _Church of England Journal_ gratified me much, and
chiefly because it _was_ the _Church of England Journal_.
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