"The preoccupation incident to the recent change in our firm (of which
we sent you a notice) has prevented our giving your proposal due
consideration earlier than now.
"We proposed Mr. Samuel Rogers' name, with the thought that he was a
man who would be in every way satisfactory to both parties, and who
could act rather in the capacity of a friendly mediator than that of a
formal arbitrator.
"Our objection to the addition of Mr. James Russell, is, that by
adding him we return to the idea of settling differences by a formal
arbitrator, which we always objected to. We should prefer to submit
the entire matter to Mr. Rogers alone, as we proposed. Still we are
desirous to have the matter settled justly and equitably, and if you
prefer to have more than one person, we are willing that Mr. Russell
(of whom we know nothing, except by reputation) should be added,
provided a third person shall be joined with the two, who shall be a
practical publisher and bookseller. We would name a gentleman who would
be perfectly capable of appreciating _all_ the points connected with
the case, and to whom, in conjunction with the two already named, we
are willing to submit it,--Mr. Henry Murray, formerly a partner in the
publishing firm of Constable & Sons, and now the head of the firm of
Murray & Blakeman. Mr. Murray is a highly honorable man, and from his
many years of experience, fully qualified to understand the case.
"If you are willing to submit the case to these three gentlemen for
decision, we shall await your and their pleasure as to time."