Joseph returned home with his manuscript. The polite conduct of the young men prevented his seeing anything unpromising in the interview with them; while nothing unfavourable could be inferred as regarded Mr. Harold himself, he being not only so pressingly engaged as to be inaccessible at the time, but ignorant of the great poetic prize which Joseph meant to place within his reach. Had he only known that it was Mr. Jenkins, the author of "The Universe," who was desirous of seeing him, and that the purport of his presence in his bibliopolic premises, was to offer him "The Universe," the parties to whom the cabriolets and the carriage at the door belonged, who were enjoying the privilege of an interview, would have received a polite hint to make way for him.

Joseph, the moment he returned to his rooms, eagerly snatched up pen and paper, and despatched a note to Mr. Harold. He apprized him of his having called that morning upon

him at Periodical Street, but found him too deeply engaged to be accessible. He added, that the object of his visit was, to offer him the manuscript of "The Universe," a poem which would extend to 300 pages, and would sell for half-a-guinea without illustrations, but for which a guinea might, with propriety, be charged, if liberally and tastefully illustrated. He now begged to send the manuscript for his inspection, and would be glad to hear from him in the course of a few days, stating what he would be disposed to give for it.

On the third day, Joseph received a note from Mr. Harold, along with his manuscript, thanking him for the offer of his poem of "The Universe," but regretting that it was not in his power to avail himself of it.

Joseph was confounded at this. Not in his power to avail himself of it! Why, what was to prevent him, if he felt so inclined? It could only be the want of will, not the want of power, that prevented his acceptance of the

offer. And that a man should be indisposed to avail himself of such an opportunity as might never again present itself, was, indeed, passing

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strange. "There must be some mistake in the matter; indeed there must," reasoned Joseph. "Ah!" said he, suddenly dropping his hand on his head after a few moments' abstraction"ah! I see how it is; he has not read the manuscript; he has too hastily inferred that it is of the same common-place character as most of the poetry of the day. He must be undeceived; indeed he must."

And, in prompt execution of his newlyformed purpose, Mr. Jenkins sent "The Universe" on a second visit to Mr. Harold, accompanied with a note to the effect, that he was certain he had returned the manuscript without reading it, and begging that he would bestow upon it an attentive perusal.

In less than an hour from its quitting Mr. Jenkins' lodgings, "The Universe" was returned to him, with a note from Mr. Harold,

positively declining the publication of the work; and adding that, though the whole of the poem had not been read, enough of it had been perused to justify the resolution not to undertake its publication.

The rejected manuscript arrived, on this occasion, at a most unseasonable moment; for, just as the energetic knock of the messenger who brought it was heard at the door, the author was in deep debate in his own mind as to whether he ought to accept £500 for it; assuming that Mr. Harold would be so deficient in liberality as to offer so moderate a

sum.

It will not, therefore, surprise the reader to be told, that he felt considerably mortified at the result of his second application to the prince of publishers. He had no doubt of speedily meeting with some more discerning bibliopole, who would feel but too happy in bringing out a work which would not only prove the source of ample profit to him, but

raise his reputation as a publisher. Still he could not divest his mind of the unpleasantness arising from the reflection, that the work would not possess the advantages and the eclât of being ushered into the world under the auspices of him who had brought out the works of two of the greatest poets of the age.