Dear Emerson,--I have had two letters of yours, the last of them
(31st May) only two days, and have seen a third written to Wiley
of New York. Yesterday Putnam was here, and we made our
bargain,--and are to have it signed this day at his Shop: two
copies, one of which I mean to insert along with this, and give
up to your or E.P. Clark's keeping. For, as you will see, I have
appointed Clark my representative, economic plenipotentiary and
factotum, if he will consent to act in that sublime capacity,--
subject always to your advice, to your control in all _ultra_-
economic respects, of which you alone are cognizant of the
circumstances or competent to give a judgment. Pray explain this
with all lucidity to Mr. Clark: and endeavor to impress upon him
that it is (to all appearance) a real affair of business we are
now engaged in; that I would have him satisfy his own sharp eyes
(by such methods as he finds convenient and sufficient, by
examination at New York or how he can) that the conditions of
this bargain _are_ fairly complied with by the New York
Booksellers,--who promise "every facility for ascertaining _how
many_ copies are printed," &c., &c.; and profess to be of the
integrity of Israelites indeed, in all respects whatever! If so,
it may be really useful to us. And I would have Mr. Clark, if he
will allow me to look upon him as my _man of business_ in this
affair, take reasonable pains, be at any reasonable expense, &c.
(by himself or by deputy) to ascertain that it is so in very
fact! In that case, if something come of it, we shall get the
something and be thankful; if nothing come of it, we shall have
the pleasure of caring nothing about it.--I have given Putnam two
Books (_Heroes_ and _Sartor_) ready, corrected; the others I
think will follow in the course of next month;--F. _Revolution_
waits only for an Index which my man is now busy with. The
_Cromwell,_ Supplement and all, he has now got,--published two
days ago, after sorrowful delays. Your Copy will be ready _this
afternoon,_--too late, I fear, by just one day: it will lie, in
that case, for a fortnight, and then come. Wiley will find that
he has no resource but to reprint the Book; he will reprint the
Supplement too, in justice to former purchasers; but this is the
_final_ form of the Book, this second edition; and to this all
readers of it will come at last.
We expect the Daguerreotype by next Steamer; but you take good
care not to prepossess us on its behalf! In fact, I believe, the
only satisfactory course will be to get a Sketch done too; if
you have any Painter that can manage it tolerably, pray set about
that, as the true solution of the business--out of the two
together we shall make a likeness for ourselves that will do.
Let the Lady Wife be satisfied with it; then we shall pronounce
it genuine!--
I envy you your forest-work, your summer umbrages, and clear
silent lakes. The weather here is getting insupportable to us
for heat. Indeed, if rain do not come within two weeks, I
believe we must wind up our affairs, and make for some shady
place direct:--Scotland is perhaps likeliest; but nothing yet is
fixed: you shall duly hear.--Directly after this, I set off for
Putnam's in Waterloo Place; sign his paper there; stick one
copy under a cover for you, and despatch.--Send me word about all
that you are doing and thinking. Be busy, be still and happy.
Yours ever,
T. Carlyle