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12. Harley Street, W.
March 30th 1861
Dear Mrs Mitchell,
I have unfortunately
no hope of being able to get
to Great Stanhope Street today
or tomorrow—but in the
course of next week I shall
be very glad indeed to call
at 5 o’clock. In
the meantime I have read
Mrs Ferguson’s specimens
of versification—and I
greatly fear that her prospect
of obtaining employment
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in English periodicals is
more than doubtful. In
these cases I always force
myself to “speak out”—
and though the feeling
of the little poems is
excellent, the expression
is not calculated, I am
afraid, to recommend them
to editors or to do them
justice with the public. This
is only my individual opinion
—and I am too sincerely
anxious to be of service, if
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I can, to any friend of your's,
to rest satisfied with my
own impression. I will
therefore submit the “specimens”
to the gentleman who is critically
appointed to read all the
new contributions (in poetry
as well as prose) which are
offered to “All The Year Round”
—and when I have the
pleasure of calling in Great
Stanhope Street, I will
bring you his opinion
as well as mine. I hope,
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for Mrs Ferguson’s sake, that
it may contradict mine
as flatly as possible!
With
compliments
to Mr Mitchell
Believe
me
Vy truly
yours
Wilkie
Collins
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