Elizabeth Barrett to Mary Russell Mitford, 21 December 1842: 'Because I would not, [italics]could not[end italics] send you Leila a serpent book both for language-color & soul-slime & one which I could not read through for its vileness myself, .. I sent this Jacques, which seemed to me to stink less in the [italics]phrase[end italics], altho' the bearing & countenance & general moral tone are identically bad [...] Indiana, less revolting as a whole leans alike & with the bent of the author's peculiar womanhood, to the sensual & physical -- and yet that work does appear to me very brilliant & powerful, & eloquent beyond praising.'