"Your letter came Saturday; but _my_ letters have not yet appeared from
Mr. Hunt. His talk to you looks like subterfuge. I never suggested his
getting the letters copied, but send them to me and I would return
them, or tell me where and when I should see them, and I would wait his
convenience. Again, what have I to do with the expenses of publishers?
I am not complaining that he pays small per cent., but that he, in the
first place, pays less than other publishers, and secondly, pays me
less than he pays other authors, and is thereby guilty of a breach of
faith."
On the same day, May 29, the firm of Brummell & Hunt addressed a letter
to Mr. Dane, saying,--
"We have occasion to print several volumes of M. N.'s writings, which
under ordinary circumstances we should proceed to do at once. Before
doing so, however, in the present posture of affairs, we have an offer
to make to M. N. The dissatisfaction which she feels, and is constantly
expressing toward us as her publishers, would probably lead her to
prefer that her books should be in other hands. We are willing to
sell the stereotyped plates and manufactured stock of her books, at a
reasonable price, to any publisher with whom she may choose to arrange
for their future publication.
"An early answer would be acceptable, as in the event of our retaining
the books, we wish to proceed with the manufacture."