I did not write to you as I had full occupation for every minute and
of a kind that could not be neglected. The same will be the case for
the next three weeks, as I am just concluding a new work which I can
of course lay aside for no other undertaking till it is finished. It
will give me very great pleasure to see you here on your way back from
Brussels and we can talk over the whole of my plan but as to having
even one number completed that is quite out of the question as in
order to accomplish it I should be obliged to lay aside a work which
had reached the beginning of the last volume before you made up your
mind and to do so would be highly disadvantageous to both books. I can
tell you quite sufficient however regarding the first two numbers to
answer your views as to illustrations.
Pray give my best wishes to Dr. Lever and tell him that we are all
going on well; though for the last fortnight I have had no small
anxiety upon my shoulders regarding Mrs. James and the baby.
Believe me to be
Dear Sir
Yours faithfully
G. P. R. JAMES.
On May 17, 1842, he wrote to Mr. Bretton:
“*** I am very glad you were pleased with what I said at the Literary
Fund dinner. I could have said a great deal more upon the same subject
and opened my views for the benefit of the arts in this country,
including literature of course, as one of the noblest branches of
art—but the hour was so late that I made my speech as short as
possible and yet perhaps it was too long.*** I think if I can bring
the great body of literary men to act with me, especially the much
neglected and highly deserving writers for the daily and weekly press,
I shall be enabled to open a new prospect for literature. Should you
have any oportunity (_sic_) of hinting that such are my wishes and
hopes, pray do: for this is no transient idea, but a fixed and long
meditated purpose which, however inadequate may be my own powers to
carry it out, may produce great things by the aid of more powerful
minds than that of
Yours very faithfully G. P. R. JAMES.
The name of the person to whom the following letter was written is not
given:
THE OAKS NR. WALMER KENT
22ND AUGT. 1844