, 1861, but came
in so slowly that, after a year's delay, Kendall almost despaired of
publication.

Meanwhile Moore had introduced Kendall to James Lionel Michael, through
whom he came to know Nicol D. Stenhouse, Dr. Woolley, and others of the
small group of literary men in Sydney. Michael, a London solicitor, had
been a friend of some of the Pre-Raphaelite group of artists, and was
much more interested in literature than in the law when the lure of gold
brought him to Australia in 1853. Himself a well-read man and a writer
of very fair verse, he recognized the decided promise of Kendall's work
and gave him a place in his office. In spite of their disparity in years
they became friends, and Kendall undoubtedly derived great benefit from
Michael's influence and from the use of his library. When in 1861
Michael left Sydney for Grafton, Kendall either accompanied him or
joined him soon afterwards. He did not, however, stay long at Grafton.
He found employment at Dungog on the Williams River; afterwards went to
Scone, where he worked for a month or two, and then made his way back to
Sydney.

Restive over the long delay in publication, and anxious to get a
critical estimate of his work, Kendall in January, 1862, made copies of
some pieces and sent them to the 'Cornhill Magazine' with a letter
pleading for special consideration on account of the author's youth and
the indifference of Australians to anything produced in their own
country. A reduced facsimile of this interesting letter is printed
here. {In this etext, the letter has been transcribed and is included
at the end of this section.} Thackeray was editor of 'Cornhill' up to
April, 1862, but may not have seen this pathetic appeal from the other
side of the world. At any rate, no notice of it was taken by
'Cornhill', and in July of the same year Kendall sent a similar letter
with copies of his verses to the 'Athenaeum'. The editor printed the
letter and some of the poems, with very kindly comments, in the issue of
27th September, 1862.

In October, 1862, before this powerful encouragement reached the young
writer, 'Poems and Songs' was published in Sydney by Mr. J. R. Clarke.
'The Empire' published a favourable review. Further notice of his work
appeared in the 'Athenaeum' during the next four years, and in 1866 it
was generously praised by Mr. G. B. Barton in his 'Poets and Prose
Writers of New South Wales'.

Meanwhile in August, 1863, Kendall was, through