A Memoir of Jane Austen

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First Attempts 105
were sometimes cheered by hearing that a different verdict had
been pronounced by more competent judges: we were told how
some great statesman or distinguished poet held these works in
high estimation; we had the satisfaction of believing that they
were most admired by the best judges, and comforted ourselves
with Horace’s ‘satis est Equitem mihi plaudere.’° So much was
this the case, that one of the ablest men of my acquaintance 1 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 sh d 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
1
The late Mr. R. H. Cheney.
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