Letter from R.E. Francillon, London, to an unidentified recipient, 1875 Apr. 11 : autograph manuscript signed.

Discussing, at length and in detail, the story he is working on and the contribution to it that the recipient has agreed to write for the Christmas issue of Gentleman's Magazine; saying "Mr. Gowing, Editor of the Gentleman's Magazine, has just sent me your address in order to put me in communication with you concerning the Xmas No. of the G.M. in which, I am delighted to learn, you have consented to write what, for shortness' sake, I will call 'the Legend." You will do doubt recognize my name in connection therewith. I have just been visiting Merionethshire, to study at first sight the local colour, characteristics etc. needful for the story, which, you are probably aware, turns - so far as the bare plot is concerned - upon the discovery of a gold mine. I had at first thought of laying the scene in Cumberland, but have, for what I consider good artistic reasons, decided upon the immediate neighbourhood of Bala. I am almost ashamed to say that I never, until this needful visit, saw that glorious part of Wales. If you know it - and I am inclined to assume that you do - I should be much more ashamed to call your attention to its fitness for the home of a legend such as I think you would like to write and such as I know I should like to read if written by you. I know of only one actual legend of the lake of Bala - that there are two Balas, one town on the shore of the lake, and the other at the bottom of the water : whether both are inhabited I cannot tell, but I should think it probable. The saying about the two Balas is 'Bala was - Bala will be', and I should be glad if you or anybody could explain the prophecy : whether it means 'as Bala was, so Bala will be', i.e., 'submerged by the lake', or whether it means that the older and submerged Bala will in time be restored to some ancient glory. But to return to the subject of your legend. I cannot think you will take any exception to the place : but I do see some possibility of difficulty in combining the freedom that is your right with the unity of plan that is my aim. My idea was that the legend - a piece of folk-lore, such as might be told at a peasants' fireside - should illustrate the deadly end of unhallowed wisdom : I speak vaguely, for all beyond the idea I purposely left vague. It was to be a sort of protest against mere book-learning, against the culture of the head without the culture of the heart and soul, or rather at the expense of these. Now it would be nothing short of inexcusable impertinence on my part to suggest to you, in the faintest way, any bounds within which you should work, either as to choice of topic or anything else. And I can therefore only say that, with timely notice, I will do my very best to bring in your work without appearance of forcing - in a word, to adapt my work to yours - But I can't do more than my best : and I cannot tell you how great a relief it would be to my mind, in the interest of the only respectable 'Unity' - that of action - if by good fortune you should see your way, without fettering yourself, to feel with me in this matter. Of course some other and better mode of making our work fit may very likely occur to you. May I ask for a hint as to what you think of doing for my own guidance at your earliest convenience, as the bulk of the work is on my shoulders, and I must get it off them before many weeks are over? Of course I don't want to hurry you - and I hope I have made it clear that I would rather take any amount of trouble - consistently with adherence to the scheme of the story - rather than that you should feel fettered in any way. Some limits of place are of course imposed upon you by the necessity of laying the scene in Wales, but that you no doubt understand. If I have assumed too strong a recollection of the scheme of the story on your part, I will answer any questions you please. I need not say that I am very proud to find myself your collaborator : and am, hoping that your views may not disagree very widely with mine."