I have just read the following on the problems of getting published. It was written in 1799 by the somewhat controversial politician and writer Capel Lofft in his preface to Robert Bloomfield's 'The Farmer's Boy' which was eventually published in 1800. (The emphasis in bold is mine.)
'In November last year (ie: November 1798) I receiv'd a MS which I was requested to read, and to give my opinion of it. It had before been shewn to some persons in London whose indifference towards it may probably be explain'd when it is consider'd that it came to their hands under no circumstances of adventitious recommendation.
'With some (publishers) a person must be rich, or titled, or fashionable as a literary name, or at least fashionable in some respect, good or bad, before any thing which he can offer will be thought worthy of notice.’
Obviously, the more things change etc.
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