will not always adequately supply the place of
observation and experience. When I write about women I am sure of my
ground--in the other case, I am not so sure.

'Here, then, each of you has laid the critical finger on a point that
by its shrinking confesses its vulnerability; whether the
disapprobation you intimate respecting the Briarchapel scenes, the
curates, etc., be equally merited, time will show. I am well aware
what will be the author's present meed for these passages: I
anticipate general blame and no praise. And were my motive-principle
in writing a thirst for popularity, or were the chief check on my pen
a dread of censure, I should withdraw these scenes--or rather, I
should never have written them. I will not say whether the
considerations that really govern me are sound, or whether my
convictions are just; but such as they are, to their influence I must
yield submission. They forbid me to sacrifice truth to the fear of
blame. I accept their prohibition.

'With the sincere expression of my esteem for the candour by which
your critique is distinguished,--I am, my dear sir, yours sincerely,

'C. BRONTE.'

TO W. S. WILLIAMS

'_August_ 16_th_, 1849.

'MY DEAR SIR,--Since I last wrote to you I have been getting on with
my book as well as I can, and I think I may now venture to say that
in a few weeks I hope to have the pleasure of placing the MS. in the
hands of Mr. Smith.

'The _North British Review_ duly reached me. I read attentively all
it says about _E. Wyndham_, _Jane Eyre_, and _F. Hervey_. Much of
the article is clever, and yet there are remarks which--for me--rob
it of importance.

'To value praise or stand in awe of blame we must respect the source
whence the praise and blame proceed, and I do not respect an
inconsistent critic. He says, "if _Jane Eyre_ be the production of a
woman, she must be a woman unsexed."

'In that case the book is an unredeemed error and should be
unreservedly condemned. _Jane Eyre_ is a woman's autobiography, by a
woman it is professedly written. If it is written as no woman would
write, condemn it with spirit and decision--say it is bad, but do not
eulogise and then detract. I am