Autograph letter signed to an [W.H. Harrison, poet, editor of "Friendship's Offering", literary advisor to Ruskin]

Poet and novelist, basketmaker and bookseller (1807-1874). One page, 4to, one nick not affecting text, fold marks and signs of having been laid down, mainly good. He has made "few alterations in the Poem, which if you think an improvement, may be adopted. I am afraid that so much practise in writing prose is creeping into and tinging my poetry. I do not truly like this 'Desolate Hall' and yet I can do nothing better at present". He has had no review in the "Literary Gazette" as yet, and comments on the "mass of new books that every corner of the columns have been crowded . . . Mr. Van Voorst has already sold between 900 and a 1000 copies of the "Beauties of the Country" {his poems published in 1837]". He is writing constantly and "Mr Colburn [publisher] is anxious to see my work ["Royston Gower"] speedily in the press . . . I think this will prove my greatest work . . . I know how much I have at stake in this Romance . . . I intended to have sent you a Poem on "The Old Oak Tree" but I cannot finish it to my mind. Some thought is sure to spring up connected with my Romance [Royston]. I can only write Reviews in the Gazette, and to read the quantity of trash now published requires a man without brains . . .". A fine letter!! N.B. Harrison was one of the first to encourage Miller as a poet and published his "Desolate Hill" (discussed in the letter, in "Friendship's Offering" *1838)