1_st_. _Tom and Jerry_, a cheap edition.
2nd. The book by Ashton—the _Dawn of the Century_, I think it was
called—which Colvin sent me, and which has miscarried, and
3rd. If it is possible, a file of the _Edinburgh Courant_ for the years
1811, 1812, 1813, or 1814. I should not care for a whole year. If it
were possible to find me three months, winter months by preference, it
would do my business not only for _St. Ives_, but for the _Justice-Clerk_
as well. Suppose this to be impossible, perhaps I could get the loan of
it from somebody; or perhaps it would be possible to have some one read a
file for me and make notes. This would be extremely bad, as unhappily
one man’s food is another man’s poison, and the reader would probably
leave out everything I should choose. But if you are reduced to that,
you might mention to the man who is to read for me that balloon
ascensions are in the order of the day.
4th. It might be as well to get a book on balloon ascension,
particularly in the early part of the century.
. . . . .
III. At last this book has come from Scribner, and, alas! I have the
first six or seven chapters of _St. Ives_ to recast entirely. Who could
foresee that they clothed the French prisoners in yellow? But that one
fatal fact—and also that they shaved them twice a week—damns the whole
beginning. If it had been sent in time, it would have saved me a deal of
trouble. . . .
I have had a long letter from Dr. Scott Dalgleish, 25 Mayfield Terrace,
asking me to put my name down to the Ballantyne Memorial Committee. I
have sent him a pretty sharp answer in favour of cutting down the
memorial and giving more to the widow and children. If there is to be
any foolery in the way of statues or other trash, please send them a
guinea; but if they are going to take my advice and put up a simple
tablet with a few heartfelt words, and really devote the bulk of the
subscriptions to the wife and family, I will go to the length of twenty
pounds, if you will allow me (and if the case of the family be at all
urgent), and at least I direct you to send ten pounds. I suppose you had
better see Scott Dalgleish himself on the matter. I take the opportunity
here to warn you that my head is simply spinning with a multitude of
affairs, and I shall probably forget a half of my business at last.