'Spectator, Lity Gazette, Sharp's Mag; Colborn have all abused it ['Ruth'] as roundly as may be. Litery Gazette in every form of abuse 'insufferably dull' 'style offensive from affectation' 'deep regret that we and all admirers of Mary Barton must feel at the author's loss of reputation' 'Thoroughly commonplace' etc., etc. I don't know of a newspaper which has praised it but the Examiner, wh. was bound to for Chapman's sake - and that's [italics] that [end italics] and be hanged to it.'