I have been intending for some time to write to you, and
always put it off, in hopes of having the pleasure of seeing you in Town; but
as Mrs. Hope’s health leaves it
very uncertain when I shall be able to go, I do not wish any longer to delay
stating how very slowly the printing of ‘Anastasius’ goes on. I have always
made it a rule to return the sheets sent to me to correct or to revise the same
day, or perhaps the next, by the coach; and yet there is scarce one-fourth of
the work printed off thus far, and, at this rate of proceeding, it certainly
cannot be published under a twelvemonth. I am far from saying there has been
any unnecessary delay, for I do not understand anything of the business of
printing; but I should think that by not waiting to send me a new sheet to
correct until after the preceding one has been revised, and perhaps printed
off, some more despatch might be obtained. I have thus far only revised twelve
chapters; and there are
| 76 | MEMOIRS OF JOHN MURRAY |
