t--who might be earning very tolerable incomes by
their pen if they only knew how, and had not wasted their young wits on
Greek plays and Latin verses; nor do I find that the attractions of such
objects of study are permanent, or afford the least solace to these
young gentlemen in their enforced leisure.

The idea of bringing young people up to Literature is doubtless
calculated to raise the eyebrows almost as much as the suggestion of
bringing them up to the Stage. The notions of Paterfamilias in this
respect are very much what they were fifty years ago. 'What! put my boy
in Grub Street? I would rather see him in his coffin.' In his mind's eye
he beholds Savage on his bunk and Chatterton on his deathbed. He does
not know that there are many hundreds of persons of both sexes who have
found out this vocation for themselves, and are diligently pursuing
it--under circumstances of quite unnecessary difficulty--to their
material advantage. He is unaware that the conditions of literature in
England have been as completely changed within a single generation as
those of locomotion.

There are, it is true, at present no great prizes in literature such as
are offered by the learned professions, but there are quite as many
small ones--competences; while, on the other hand, it is not so much of
a lottery. It is not necessary to marry an attorney's daughter, or a
bishop's, to get on in it. The calling, as it is termed (I know not why,
for it is often heavy enough), of 'light literature' is in such
contempt, through ignorance on the one hand, and arrogance on the other,
that one is almost afraid in such a connection to speak of merit; yet
merit, or, at all events, aptitude with diligence, is certain of success
in it. A great deal has been said about editors being blind to the worth
of unknown authors; but if so, they must be also blind (and this I have
never heard said of them) to their own interests. It would be just as
reasonable to accuse a recruiting sergeant of passing by the stout
six-feet fellows who wish to enlist with him, and for each of
whom--directly or indirectly--he receives head-money. It is possible, of
course, that one particular sergeant may be drunken, or careless of his
own interests, but in that case the literary recruit has only to apply
next door. The opportunities for action in the field of literature are
now so very numerous that it is impossible that any able volunteer
should be long shut out of it; and I h