Concord, 15 May, 1839.
My Dear Friend,--Last Saturday, 11th instant, I had your two
letters of 13th and 17th April. Before now, you must have one or
two notes of mine touching the stereotype plates: a proposition
superseded by your new plan. I have also despatched one or two
sheets lately containing accounts. Now for the new matter. I
was in Boston yesterday, and saw Brown, the bookseller. He
accedes gladly, to the project of five hundred American copies of
the _History._ He says, that the duty is the same on books in
sheets and books in boards; and desires, therefore, that the
books may come out _bound._ You bind yours in cloth? Put up his
in the same style as those for your market, only a little more
strongly than is the custom with London books, as it will only
cost a little more. He would be glad also to have his name added
in the titlepage (London: Published by J. Fraser; and Boston:
by C.C. Little and James Brown, 112 Washington St.), or is not
this the right way? He only said he should like to have his name
added. He threatens to charge me 20 percent commission. If, as
he computes from your hint of 2/7, the work costs you, say, 70
cents per copy, unbound; he reckons it at a dollar, when bound;
then 75 cents duty in Boston, $1.75. He thinks we cannot set a
higher price on it than $3.50, _because_ we sold our former
edition for $2.50. On that price, his commissions would be 70
cents; and $1.05 per copy will to you. If when we see the book,
we venture to put a higher price on it, your remainder shall be
more. I confess, when I set this forth on paper, it looks as bad
as your English trade,--this barefaced 20 percent; but their
plea is, We guarantee the sales; we advertise; we pay you when
it is sold, though we give our customers six months' credit. I
have made no final bargain with the man, and perhaps before the
books arrive I shall be better advised, and may get better terms
from him. Meantime, give me the best advice you can; and
despatch the books with all speed, and if you send six hundred, I
think, we will sell them.
------------
* In the first edition of this Correspondence a portion of this
letter was printed from a rough draft, such as Emerson was
accustomed to make of his letters to Carlyle. I owe the original
to the kindness of the editor of the _Athenaeum,_ in the pages
of which it was printed.
-----------
I went to the _Athenaeum,_ and procured the _Frasers'_ and will
print the _Novelle_ and the _Mahrchen_ at the end of the Fourth
Volume, which has been loitering under one workman for a week or
two past, awaiting this arrival. Now we will finish at once.
_Cruthers and Jonson_ I read gladly. It is indispensable to such
as would see the fountains of Nile: but I incline to what seems
your opinion, that it will be better in the final edition of your
Works than in this present First Collection of them. I believe I
could find more matter now of yours if we should be pinched
again. The Cat-Raphael? and _Mirabeau_ and _Macaulay?_ Stearns
Wheeler is very faithful in his loving labor,--has taken a world
of pains with the sweetest smile. We are very fortunate in
having him to friend.--For the _Miscellanies_ once more, the two
boxes containing two hundred and sixty copies of the first series
went to sea in the "St. James," Captain Sebor, addressed to Mr.
Fraser. (I hope rightly addressed; yet I saw a memorandum at
Munroe's in which he was named _John_ Fraser.)
Arthur Buller has my hearty thanks for his good and true
witnessing. And now that our old advice is indorsed by John Bull
himself, you will believe and come. Nothing can be better. As
soon as the lectures are over, let the trunks be packed. Only my
wife and my blessed sister dear--Elizabeth Hoar, betrothed in
better times to my brother Charles,--my wife and this lovely nun
do say that Mrs. Carlyle must come hither also; that it will
make her strong, and lengthen her days on the earth, and cheer
theirs also. Come, and make a home with me; and let us make a
truth that is better than dreams. From this farm-house of mine
you shall sally forth as God shall invite you, and "lecture in
the great cities." You shall do it by proclamation of your own,
or by the mediation of a committee, which will readily be found.
Wife, mother, and sister shall nurse thy wife meantime, and you
shall bring your republican laurels home so fast that she shall
not sigh for the Old England. Eyes here do sparkle at the very
thought. And my little placid Musketaquid River looked gayer
today in the sun. In very sooth and love, my friend, I shall
look for you in August. If aught that we know not must forbid
your wife at present, you will still come. In October, you shall
lecture in Boston; in November, in New York; in December, in
Philadelphia; in January, in Washington. I can show you three
or four great natures, as yet unsung by Harriet Martineau or Anna
Jameson, that content the heart and provoke the mind. And for
yourself, you shall be as cynical and headstrong and fantastical
as you can be.
I rejoice in what you say of better health and better prospects.
I was glad to hear of Milnes, whose _Poems_ already lay on my
table when your letter came. Since the little _Nature_ book is
not quite dead, I have sent you a few copies, and wish you would
offer one to Mr. Milnes with my respects. I hope before a great
while I may have somewhat better to send him. I am ashamed that
my little books should be "quoted" as you say.
My affectionate salutations to Mrs. Carlyle, who is to sanction
and enforce all I have written on the migration. In the prospect
of your coming I feel it to be foolish to write. I have very
much to say to you. But now only Good Bye.
--R.W. Emerson