‘My dear Rogers,—Pray forward the enclosed to Murray when you have looked it over. Copying from your letter, as you will observe, I have confined myself to the words “responsible for the loss,” without using the word expense: ultimate loss I believe there will be none, but there will be a heavy expense, which the sale of the books, if M. does not push, and the leading reviews and periodicals should not take a fit of praising, may be some years in discharging. When am I to become answerable for this? This question I did not like to put directly to M., for it was suggesting a demand sooner than he might otherwise have been disposed to make it; and the new bargain will not eventually be advantageous to me, if I am to advance money and to be long out of it.
‘Many thanks for your kindness on this occasion. I have been slow to reply, not from being insensible of your services, but from the extreme dislike which I have ever had to publication, as it is then that the faults of my writings, to use a conversational expression of your own applied to beauties, “shine out.” How came I by this expression? Sir George Beaumont can tell.
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‘You are as mute as a mouse about coming here, and everything else, except a brief remembrance from your brother and sister. I forgive you. A man so prompt in deeds may be sparing in words.
‘God bless you, and long. May you be healthy and happy in your delightful habitation, which is distinctly before my eyes.
‘Yesterday I had the honor of receiving a book dedicated to my dear self by a lady, a fair one I hope, but I have never seen her or heard of her before. She is clever. Adieu.’
