In 1850 he wrote a letter to _The Morning Chronicle_, which has since been republished, in which he alludes to certain opinions which had been put forth in _The Examiner_.

"I don't see," he says, "why men of letters should not very cheerfully coincide with Mr.Examiner in accepting all the honours, places, and prizes which they can get.

The amount of such as will be awarded to them will not, we may be pretty sure, impoverish the country much; and if it is the custom of the State to reward by money, or titles of honour, or stars and garters of any sort, individuals who do the country service,--and if individuals are gratified at having 'Sir' or 'My lord' appended to their names, or stars and ribbons hooked on to their coats and waistcoats, as men most undoubtedly are, and as their wives, families, and relations are,--there can be no reason why men of letters should not have the chance, as well as men of the robe or the sword; or why, if honour and money are good for one profession, they should not be good for another.

No man in other callings thinks himself degraded by receiving a reward from his Government; nor, surely, need the literary man be more squeamish about pensions, and ribbons, and titles, than the ambassador, or general, or judge.

Every European state but ours rewards its men of letters.