Dear Emerson,--Here is the _Photograph_ going off for you by
Bookseller Munroe of Boston; the Sheets of _Cromwell,_ all the
second and part of the last volume, are to go direct to New York:
both Parcels by the Putnam conveyance. For Putnam has been here
since I wrote, making large confirmations of what you conveyed to
me; and large Proposals of an ulterior scope,--which will
involve you in new trouble for me. But it is trouble you will
not grudge, inasmuch as it promises to have some issue of moment;
at all events the negotiation is laid entirely into your hands:
therefore I must with all despatch explain to you the essentials
of it, that you may know what Wiley says when he writes to you
from New York.
Mr. Putnam, really a very intelligent, modest, and reputable-
looking little fellow, got at last to sight of me about a week
ago;--explained with much earnestness how the whole origin of the
mistake about the First Edition of _Cromwell_ had lain with
Chapman, my own Bookseller (which in fact I had already perceived
to be the case); and farther set forth, what was much more
important, that he and his Partner were, and had been, ready and
desirous to _make good_ said mistake, in the amplest, most
satisfactory manner,--by the ready method of paying me _now_
ten percent on the selling-price of all the copies of _Cromwell_
sent into the market by them; and had (as I knew already)
covenanted with you to do so, in a clear, _bona-fide,_ and to
you satisfactory manner, in regard to that First Edition: in
consequence of which you had made a bargain with them of like
tenor in regard to the Second. To all which I could only answer,
that such conduct was that of men of honor, and would, in all
manner of respects, be satisfactory to me. Wherefore the new
Sheets of _Cromwell_ should now go by _his_ Package direct to New
York, and the other little Parcel for you he could send to
Munroe:--that as one consequence? "Yes, surely," intimated he;
but there were other consequences, of more moment, behind that.
Namely, that they wanted (the Wiley & Putnam house did) to
publish certain other Books of mine, the List of which I do not
now recollect; under similar conditions: viz. that I was to
certify, in a line or two prefixable to each Book, that I had
read it over in preparation for their Printer, and did authorize
them to print and sell it;--in return for which Ten percent on
the sale-price (and all manner of facilities, volunteered to
convince even Clark of Boston, the Lynx-eyed Friend now busy for
me looking through millstones, that all was straight, and said
Ten percent actually paid on every copy sold); This was Putnam's
Offer, stated with all transparency, and in a way not to be
misunderstood by either of us.
To which I answered that the terms seemed clear and square and
every way good, and such as I could comply with heartily,--so far
as I was at liberty, but not farther. Not farther: for example,
there was Hart of Philadelphia (I think the Wileys do not want
the _Miscellanies_), there were Munroe, Little and Brown, &c.;--
in short, there was R.W. Emerson, who knew in all ways how far I
was free and not free, and who would take care of my integrity
and interest at once, and do what was just and prudent; and to
_him_ I would refer the whole question, and whatever he engaged
for, that and no other than that I would do. So that you see how
it is, and what a coil you have again got into! Mr. Putnam would
have had some "Letter," some "exchange of Letters," to the effect
above-stated: but I answered, "It was better we did not write at
all till the matter was clear and liquid with you, and then we
could very swiftly write,--and act. I would apprise you how the
matter stood, and expect your answer, and bid you covenant with
Mr. Wiley what you found good, prompt I to fulfil whatever _you_
undertook for me."--This _is_ a true picture of the affair, the
very truest I can write in haste; and so I leave it with you--
_Ach Gott!_
If your Photograph succeed as well as mine, I shall be almost
_tragically_ glad of it. This of me is far beyond all pictures;
really very like: I got Laurence the Painter to go with me, and
he would not let the people off till they had actually made a
likeness. My Wife has got another, which she asserts to be much
"more amiable-looking," and even liker!* O my Friend, it is a
strange Phantasmagory of a Fact, this huge, tremendous World of
ours, Life of ours! Do you bethink you of Craigenputtock, and
the still evening there? I could burst into tears, if I had that
habit: but it is of no use. The Cromwell business will be ended
about the end of May,--I do hope!
You say not a word of your own affairs: I have vaguely been
taught to look for some Book shortly;--what of it? We are well,
or tolerably well, and the summer is come: adieu. Blessings on
you and yours.
--T.C.
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* The engraved portrait in the first volume of this
Correspondence is from a photograph taken from this daguerrotype.
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