Autograph letter signed with initials : Devon, to H.P. Collins, [ca. 193-]..

Returning books he had lent him "which I enjoyed reading very much, particularly the verses of Owen, who was, as they say down here, a proper man;" asking about mutual friends; "For myself, I toil along, feeling myself a shambling sort of creature, writing indifferent prose and commonplace thoughts. Am pecking at the seeds of four books - all various - I begin with enthusiasm & into myself till in 10,000 words, often leave it. Money is nil, but still I look forward to competence. Am I known as a writer? No. Have I any mid-ful person believing in my ultimate worth as a writer. No. Am I going to be a 3rd rate story-teller? I fear so. Are my dreams fading, my fervours sinking, my hopes nil? Yes;" comparing Tomlinson's 'Estuary' to Conrad's writing and to Hardy's Jude the Obscure and Tess [of the D'Urbervilles]; saying "Tomlinson's 'Estuary' is here - 'Burra' is Appledore, which I know well. Its a good piece of writing, but he seems always trying to write Conradian thoughts in every sentence - so that the reader gets not much picture. Conrad shares his thoughts, & thats why we like to read them...Tomlinson is all 'deep & sombre' thoughts & I suspect he rather fakes them - he insists to himself that he still thinks like that. Result, one can't get one's own thoughts from his writing, which is good art - cf. Jude the Obscure & Tess - complete objectivity & immune from attack on grounds of freak-banality - they are like trees or hills, not paintings of trees or hills."