Dear Fields,
I intend to put the House of the Seven Gables into the express
man's hands to-day; so that, if you do not soon receive it, you may
conclude that it has miscarried--in which case, I shall not consent
to the Universe existing a moment longer. I have no copy of it,
except the wildest scribble of a first draught; so that it could
never be restored.
It has met with extraordinary success from that portion of the
public to whose judgement it has been submitted, viz. from my wife.
I likewise prefer it to the Scarlet Letter; but an author's opinion
of his book, just after completing it, is worth little or nothing;
he being then in the hot or cold fit of a fever, and certain to
rate it too high or too low.
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