I am just returned from the city, and have scarcely time to save the post, and say that I really considered the offer I made you handsome, and as liberal a one as in common prudence could be made under the particular circumstances. Without seeing the contents, which certainly promised well, I naturally expected the most interesting work on the subject that has appeared; but however excellent and original, you perhaps have no idea how great a disadvantage to the sale is the number of works on the same topic that has already appeared.
I should indeed be sorry that you should be compelled to
arrange with any other bookseller, and whatever apparent
advantage there may be in publishing with any other, I am very confident, on a
proper balancing, of its being in my
favour. No one bookseller, I am certain, takes the tenth part the
pains I do in advertising, and in other respects I do
not think any one will in future, cope with me, since,
from January next, I shall have under my sole control two
journals, viz., the New Monthly, which flourishes as well as
possible in England, and my new forthcoming weekly
literary journal, which is to be sent free by the post
instantly all over the country like a newspaper, and to
foreign parts. It is to be called The Literary Gazette and Journal of the
Belles-Lettres. The publication will form a new
| FIRST VISIT TO FRANCE—1815-1816. | 53 |
To conclude at once, though at a really great risk, I will consent to undertake to pay the one thousand pounds, and on my honour if it succeed better than expected, I will consider myself accordingly your debtor, besides making up to you the other fifty pounds on O’Donnel that you may no longer regret the third edition.
That I may make arrangements accordingly, I will beg your ultimatum by return of post. I am obliged to conclude,
