I have brought out 1500 copies of Leaves from Australian Forests; one thousand for the colonies and 500 for home consumption. Robertson the publisher undertook to pay all the expenses upon the condition that the proceeds of the first 700 copies should go into his own pocket. If he should sell more I am to share the profits with him. You will perceive that the Colonial Monthly of October has put me at the top of the tree. At the present however, I should prefer a steady income of some kind or other, to all sorts of literary fame.
You ask me to let you know how I am getting on. Very badly indeed. When I wrote last I had just received temporary employment on the Daily Telegraph as a leader writer. But this thing lasted only while one of the regular men was ill. His recovery has put me out of harness again. I am at present subsisting after a fashion by casual contributions to Punch and Humbug. These papers pay a wretched allowance for work.
As yet I have gone through the suffering alone. That is to say, I have kept Mrs Kendall from feeling actual want. She is a girl that deserves more than I could say in the dedication.
I must hope for better times. I would have higher spirits if I were well.
