[Manchester—Thursday, 12 September 1867]
Thursday we went there to pass the afternoon and evening. The moon was full. Just at sunset with the moon high in sky we wandered through the woods. Old Mr Dana & Mrs Dana accompanying us. It was wild and dim and impressive. We came out upon the lawn, the house-door stood wide, the sunset streamed across and the young girls were dancing about in gay dresses. After tea J. went out again to see the moon. I stayed and talked with my elders in the parlor.
Jamie told me that Mr Whipple said at dinner the other day that in the past days of English literature only three men had ever made a fortune from their books. These are Shakspeare (whose income is calculated at $10,000 per annum of our money), Pope, and Sir Walter Scott.
When we remember this we must again take heart with regard to the respect paid to literature in our day. Dickens has made a fortune and may have earned enough to live more than comfortably, as Thackeray, Bayard Taylor, Tennyson and others too numerous to mention.
