" THE HOLY MOUNTAIN. "
[To VIE EDITOR Or VII "SPECTATOR."'
SIR,—You were good enough to notice at some length last week this month's instalment in the English Review of my novel, "The Holy Mountain." I do not want to contest your criticism any more than I want to contest those of your remarks which were kindly in the extreme; and I readily admit that the book's satire on profanity has sometimes itself the appearance of profanity. But may I point out that there were in one sentence of your notice three errors of fact ? (1) So far from being keenly interested in making money out of his miracle, the hero only wants enough to got married on. (2) He does not ruin a girl in his father's employment ; he is only suspected of doing so. (3) He does not then take up with another ; he is absolutely faithful to Isis Julia tho whole way through. That, I had hoped, was sufficiently plain, and you will, I am sure, wish to correct your errors of fact, whether or no such correction causes you to modify [We have received the following from the writer of the review :— " Mr. Stephen Reynolds complains of throe errors of fact in the notice of his novel in the English Review. The author, of course, understands the unexpressed working of the minds of his characters better than does the reader. With regard to error (1), the young man's desire for money is described without the qualifying reason now given. (2) Throe people, Julia, the Magistrate's clerk, and the old nurse, all announce their belief that Alec is tho father of the child, and no contrary view is expressed by any one. The nurse tells the young man of this conviction, and is not con- tradicted by bins ; while Julia informs Isis father. (3) Of course, if Alec is guiltless, there is no reason why he should not be engaged to Julia. The possibility of a mistake is not hinted at by the author."—E. Spectator.]
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