He owns his _belles-lettres_ books have given no great profits; in my opinion he must have lost even by some.

But he makes a fortune by juvenile and useful compilations.

You know I always told you he wanted _literary taste_--like an atheist, who is usually a disappointed man, he thinks all _belles lettres_ are nonsense, and denies the existence of _taste_; but it exists! and I flatter myself you will profit under that divinity.

I have much to say on this subject and on him when we meet.
At length I have got through your poetry: it has been a weary task! The writer has a good deal of fire, but it is rarely a very bright flame.
Here and there we see it just blaze, and then sink into mediocrity.

He is too redundant and tiresome....