omg snippet of a letter from Nerval to Saint-Beuve, 1832; apparently S-B was carrying on his weird controlling tendencies even past his whole Thing with Hugo. Translation below, all errors mine :P:
"(from Nerval):
I have understood that well, for he last two years that I’ve known Duseigneur and that I have entered the small circle of which he is a part and where I become more and more attached.
Certainly it was not formed with the intention of parodying the other, the glorious cenacle that you have celebrated, but only for a useful association and then a public of choice (that is,each other-P.A) where one can try his works in advance and to satisfy to a certain extent this need for publication, which makes one scatter a future of glory in small successive triumphs. It is also a very powerful spur to hear each day ask: what have you done? and to see people around you working ... "
Original French under the cut:











