“My Dear Mr Godwin,—I have written a letter or two which I have reason to believe you never saw: but I presume those detailing the shufflings and ill-treatment of the booksellers on the subject of your novel, must have reached you. I hope you are satisfied I did everything in my power to secure you some advantage from this work. But I am now convinced that, unless for some party purpose, it is impossible to create a more liberal spirit in reference to literary matters here, than the law enables me to command: and in your case the law gave all the power out of your hands. Competition, if it could have been kindled, might have given some power to the possessor of the earliest copy, but I laboured in vain to create such a spirit; and after great efforts, and one or two long journeys, was obliged quietly to let a paltry edition appear, and endure to be laughed at for my philippics against the powerful booksellers, who for a hope of disreputable profit, could stoop to so much meanness.
“I have only a moment to spare for the purpose of
asking your civilities to a friend of mine—Mr
Rand, an artist . . . He has been kind enough to promise me your
portrait, if you will so far oblige me as to sit for it. I know this is asking
much, but I shall
| THOMAS COOPER. | 327 |
“Thomas Cooper has been obliged to appeal to public sympathy for his family. The people came forward very handsomely. At Philadelphia they had a benefit which yielded 2500 dols., and one was lately given in New York, amounting to 4500 dols.—I am, &c.,
