Autograph letter signed : London, to Miss Gillington, 1889 June 7.

Discussing the difficulties of getting poetry published; saying "I regret to say that there is no publisher in England who will risk a shilling over poetry of any kind, unless it be the work of a writer whose reputation is established (from the publisher's point of view) by popularity of his past ventures. I bore all the expenses in connection with the publication of 'Israfel' and am not likely to recover them for a long time to come. The 'half-profit' and 'royalty' systems are only adopted in the case of books which have some chance of success, and it is not too much to say that verse has no chance, however well it may be reviewed. I do not say that there are no exceptions to this too general rule. One volume of poetry in a hundred (by a new writer) may pay its expenses, and occasionally it may do more, but you will readily see that this chance is not one which a bookseller is likely to venture on. Publishers of any importance will not even sell upon 'commission' without a charge varying from £5 to £10 for the use of their imprint. I regret that my information is so discouraging but these are the facts of the case. My next poem, entitled 'A Soul's Comedy', will appear this month, and even for that only a part of my expenses are ensured. .