I move an iron pen with a leaden hand to answer your note, and corroborate your complaint of me, which I take to amount to this, that I am a bad correspondent. In truth, I do not disclaim any imputation I deserve, and I hope I never shall. We differ—for you are a lively and ready writer, while I am a dull and procrastinating one. I would never write a letter if I could help it, and with this habit, or infirmity, or vice, or whatever it be, I never can, and therefore will not pretend to, become a good correspondent.
But, in fact, as connected with the Year Book, I am not aware that I can in justice to myself allow of a claim upon me for answers by letter to correspondents — if I did, I could not satisfy the claimants except by heartless civilities in such no-meaning notes as worthy editors oblige their correspondents with—short, complimentary, and illusory.
Now see—J. F. R. got a note from me, and then drew an inference that others would follow as of course, but the J. F. R. inferred from premises of his own premising. I find, however, that I am verging towards an argumentative epistle, and will not weary you or myself, but come to the point.
Be pleased to look at the notices "to Correspondents," in which I am constrained to say the Year Book is not a magazine,—and then look at, and consider, a Part of the work, each of which is, or ought to be, devoted to something appropriate to each day within that month. Then further consider the difficulty of compressing in that way, and of gratifying all who favor me with their contributions. At this moment there are eighty pages of matter set up at the printer's, not more than ten of which can come into the coming part for July, and sixty pages are composed of communications. You see, Sir, there will be some little inconvenience attendant on endeavours, if I make them, to persuade the contributors they are not ill used, and yet to the best of my judgment, standing betwen them and the public, I am as equitable as a chancellor who is sworn and desires to do right.
Dare I ask you to observe, further, the notices to Poetical Correspondents? These notices have been occasioned by an absolute deluge of verse, more than would fill the remainder of the year without a line of prose.
I think, were you to exchange positions with me, you would be as unable as I am to determine whether a communication would be suitable till it arrived. But look at the Year Book — it aims at brief notices and never divides Articles. I say this in reference to Robin Hood.2 You know that in a collection of Ballads relating to him, published a few years ago, there are large accounts and particulars, and the book is accessible. I announce that nothing in the Every Day or Table Book would be inserted in the Year Book. Of course I presume on a pre-knoweldge of the former works on the part of correspondents, and in the first there is a minute and perhaps sufficient account of Robin; yet any thing really interesting, and not long (of necessity, if you reflect, not long), I shall receive and insert with pleasure. The "Geste" is among the Articles composed at the printing office, and will appear in the July (the next) Part, with particulars concerning the Morris Dance. As I mentioned before, it will be preceded by an engraving.
From these statements I think you will gather any thing rather than indispoistion to insertion of articles signed J. F. R., especially as articles with that signature have already appeared, and more especially when I inform you that I have suitable papers of the date of February and March last for which room has not yet been found; among them are some of Mr. Allport's who, as contributing to the Every Day Book, I am bound to regard if I respected him no otherwise; and, by the by, as regards letter writing, though he is so old a correspondent, I never wrote to him till a month or two ago. You will judge therefore whether what you term "unreasonable neglect" was intentional.