Literary Connexions or Acquaintances [February 1837]

One and all—unless by accident people of unusual originality, power, and also nerve, so as to be able without trepidation to face the expectations of men—the literary class labour under two opposite disqualifications for a good tone of conversation. From causes visibly explained, they are either spoiled by the vices of reserve, and of over-consciousness directed upon themselves—this is one extreme; or, where manliness of mind has prevented this, beyond others of equal or inferior natural power, they are apt to be desperately commonplace. The very attempt to disguise embarrassment, too often issues in a secondary and more marked embarrassment. Another mode of reserve arises with some literary men, who believe themselves to be in possession of novel ideas. The first defect is an accident arising out of the rarity of literary pretensions; and would rapidly subside as the proportion became larger of practising literati to the mass of educated people.