'I delayed sending you my acknowledgement for the September issue[of Blackwood's Magazine] [...]The appreciation of Mrs Oliphant's work is just in the right note.It is justice--and discriminating justice--rendered to that serene talent. I think she wrote too much (perhaps it's envy; to me it's simply inconceivable) but she was ever faithful to her artistic temperament--she always expressed herself. She was a better artist than George Elliot[sic] and, at her best immensely superior to any living woman novelist I can call to mind. Harris (an old friend of mine--in his work) can write more than a bit. Not to everyone is given to be so graphic and so easy at the same time. Besides his point of view is most sympathetic to me. Blackmore is himself--of course. But professor Saintsbury's paper interested me most--a bit of fundamental criticism most cleverly expounded.'