Letter from J. MacLaren Cobban, London, to W. E. Henley, 1891 November 27 : autograph manuscript signed.

Thanking him for the review of "A Reverend Gentleman" and discussing their quarrel; saying "Which leads me to say something I have long wished to utter. Why are we supposed to have quarrelled? For the benefit & delight of the young men of the region round about - of 'our set', as Watt says? Let me declare at once that I am now convinced the confidence of both of us has been for a long while abused most mischievously by those who professed the utmost friendliness on both sides - I name no names. 'Things' have been reported as said on your side & on mine which had better have been left unsaid, - reported, I have reason to think, on both sides with a malignant perversion or exaggeration. It was, for instance, reported to me that you believed that, if I did not write, I at least inspired certain paragraphs some months ago in 'The Star'; while I should have thought it was hardly necessary for me to protest that neither directly nor indirectly had I anything to do with them. Again, it has been reported to me that the 'Daily Chronicle' matter (which we had agreed should be strictly between our two selves) is common gossip among the young men, - & that in a very offensive version. I cannot believe that you are in any proper sense responsible for that, while at the same time I know I am not. No person whatever would have ever learned from me that I was not writing for the N.O. as aforetime. I go back on these things, however, only to dismiss them. I believe now, as I have said, that my mind has been abused about you, just as, I am sure, your mind has been abused about me. But surely we are old enough as men, & old enough, too, as friends to forgive & to forget any puerilities into which we may have been betrayed. Our friendship indeed is so old & has been until lately so unbroken that it has grieved & hurt me very much that any cause of offence should have arisen between us. I owe you so much & my admiration & affection for you are so great that I would be exceedingly glad to know that what estrangement there has been had ceased."