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Letter 3
If I might presume so far, I should concur entirely with your husband in assuming that you do want nothing but practice and very little more of that, to edit your Companion with satisfactory Success. At all Events do not weaken yourself by a premature distrust of your own ability. One thing alone should make you confident. There is precious little ability in any editorial department, in any of the established monthlies. What is the Messenger's, the Knickerbocker's, which are considered among the best? The one is a blank, the other a petit maitre in the literary image of a monstrous petty circle.[32] In the Competition, at least, which you are to meet, there is nothing to alarm you. But I trust you will work out your editorials without regard to the doings of your bretheren. The standards
I should prefer that the Sonnets should go together. They were meant as a sort of family group. I am very sorry that Oakatibbe does not please you, the more particularly as just now I am over head & ears in labor and can do nothing out of the <brain>. You are aware that the story was meant to be Subservient to the argument. Perhaps a brief note to this effect would be of Service.[33] At all Events you promised me a proof of it. Do let me have two impressions sent by different mails — So that if one sh'd fail, we should still be tolerably sure of the other. Touching the price of these contributions I can say nothing. I leave this matter entirely to yourself for the present. I should be better pleased that you should determine their value for yourself. This will depend on the degree of patronage you receive. At all Events I am willing that it should be so, in respect to the Sonnets & Oakatibbe. We can have a more decided understanding in the Event of further contributions.
I do not know that I shall be free to do anything for a month, unless it be to correct some occasional Copies of verse which are already by me. Pledges of performance made a year ago, and interrupted by the Sickness & death in my family, are now pressing upon me. I write daily, an average from 15 to 22 pages of foolscap. Hard work this, & grievously against the Spirit. I trust to be free by November & to continue tolerably free during the winter. The paper of Mr. Curtis on Sacred Poetry[34] is very well written. The Ins & Outs very spirited — very well done. Perhaps a little over done — but Still lively & stirring. Who is the author? — I can not guess.[35]
I repeat that your book is singularly creditable, — not as a first number merely. I do not doubt that you will Succeed in making a deserving & valuable miscellany — of your recompenses I say nothing. Time will show. You give perhaps too much matter, but you know best. — I regret to hear that you have been sick, but the bracing airs of October are already with us, and you cannot help but do well now. You have my Sincere wishes for your restoration to health, with the Success of your literary & all other pursuits.
Very respectfully
[Y]r obt Sevt &c
W. G. Simms
P. S. You request a very spirited article for No. 3? When will that number appear? I know not what leisure will be left me, and can therefore promise
The toil of inventing a tale of 20 pages is about as great as that of inventing it for 2 vols. I do not think you will Ever want for Stories. Our magazine writers are Spinning them day & night. They are the Staple. You will rather want the <—> weights by which they are to be balanced — kept down — kept from being too etherial & flying away with the 'Companion.' You must give me the privilege accorded me elsewhere, of writing according to the movements of my own mind. I shall then write more confidently, and I trust more successfully.
W. G. S.
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