The Bronte novels were first read and admired in the Ballynaskeagh manse. This statement I am able to make with fulness of knowledge. "Jane Eyre" was read, cried over, laughed over, argued over, condemned, exalted, by the Reverend David McKee, his brilliant children and numerous pupils, before the author was known publicly in England, or a single review of the work had appeared. The Reverend W. J. McCracken, an old pupil of the Ballynaskeagh manse, writes me on this point: "You have no doubt heard Mr. McKee's[2] opinion as to the source of Charlotte's genius. When Charlotte Bronte published one of her books, there was always an early copy sent to the uncles and aunts in Ballynaskeagh. As they had little taste for such literature, the book was sent straight over to our dear old friend Mr. McKee. If it pleased him, the Brontes would be in raptures with their niece, and triumphantly say to their neighbors, 'Mr. McKee thinks her very _cliver_.' "I well remember Mr. McKee reading one of Charlotte's novels, and, in his own inimitable way, making the remark: 'She is just her Uncle Jamie over the world. Just Jamie's strong, powerful, direct way of putting a thing.'" Mrs. McKee, now living in New Zealand, writes me: "My husband had early copies of the novels from the Brontes, and he pronounced them to be Bronte in warp and woof, before 'Currer Bell' was publicly known to be Charlotte Bronte. He held that the stories not only showed the Bronte genius and style, but that the facts were largely reminiscences of the Bronte family. He recognized many of the characters as founded largely on old Hugh's yarns, polished into literature. When 'Jane Eyre' came into the hands of the uncles they were troubled as to its character, but they were very grateful to my husband for his good opinion of its ability. He pronounced it a remarkable and brilliant work, before any of the reviews appeared." In addition to the five hundred pounds that Smith, Elder & Co. paid Charlotte Bronte for the copyright of each of her novels, they sent half a dozen copies direct to herself. The book was published on October 16th, and ten days later Charlotte thus acknowledged receipt of the copies: _October 26, 1847._ "MESSRS. SMITH, ELDER & CO.: "_Gentlemen_: The six copies of 'Jane Eyre' reached me this morning. You have given the work every advantage which good paper, clear type and a seemly outside can supply; if it fails, the fault will lie with the author--you are exempt. I now await the judgment of the press and the public. I am, gentlemen, "Yours respectfully, "C. BELL."