uaintance {136b} said,
in that kind of jest which has much earnest in it, that he had
established it in his own mind, as a new test of ability, whether people
_could_ or _could not_ appreciate Miss Austen's merits.

But though such golden opinions were now and then gathered in, yet the
wide field of public taste yielded no adequate return either in praise or
profit. Her reward was not to be the quick return of the cornfield, but
the slow growth of the tree which is to endure to another generation. Her
first attempts at publication were very discouraging. In November, 1797,
her father wrote the following letter to Mr. Cadell:--

'Sir,--I have in my possession a manuscript novel, comprising 3 vols.,
about the length of Miss Burney's "Evelina." As I am well aware of
what consequence it is that a work of this sort shd make its first
appearance under a respectable name, I apply to you. I shall be much
obliged therefore if you will inform me whether you choose to be
concerned in it, what will be the expense of publishing it at the
author's risk, and what you will venture to advance for the property
of it, if on perusal it is approved of. Should you give any
encouragement, I will send you the work.

'I am, Sir, your humble Servant,
'GEORGE AUSTEN.'
'Steventon, near Overton, Hants,
'1st Nov. 1797.'

This proposal was declined by return of post! The work thus summarily
rejected must have been 'Pride and Prejudice.'

The fate of 'Northanger Abbey' was still more humiliating. It was sold,
in 1803, to a publisher in Bath, for ten pounds, but it found so little
favour in his eyes, that he chose to abide by his first loss rather than
risk farther expense by publishing such a work. It seems to have lain
for many years unnoticed in his drawers; somewhat as the first chapters
of 'Waverley' lurked forgotten amongst the old fishing-tackle in Scott's
cabinet. Tilneys, Thorpes, and Morlands consigned apparently to eternal
oblivion! But when four novels of steadily increasing success had given
the writer some confidence in herself, she wished to recover the
copyright of this early work. One of her brothers undertook the
negotiation. He found the purchaser very willing to receive back his
money, and to resign all claim to the copyright. When the bargain was
concluded and the money paid, but not till then, the negotiator had the
satisfaction of informing him that the work which had bee