Chapter XCIX: Letter 90: To Poole

March, 1800.

If I had the least love of money I could make almost sure of £2,000 a year, for Stuart has offered me half shares in the two papers, the "Morning Post" and "Courier", if I would devote myself with him to them. But I told him that I would not give up the country, and the lazy reading of old folios for two thousand times two thousand pound--in short that beyond £250 a year I considered money as a real evil.--

I think there are but two good ways of writing--one for immediate and wide impression, though transitory--the other for permanence. Newspapers are the first--the best one can do is the second. That middle class of translating books is neither the one nor the other. When I have settled myself "clear", I shall write nothing for money but for the newspaper. You of course will not hint a word of Stuart's offer to me. He has behaved with abundant honour and generosity.