Volume I Part 34 (2/2)
You are enjoying your holiday? and are still thinking sometimes of our Boston days, as I do? and are maturing schemes for coming here next summer? A satisfactory reply to the last question is particularly entreated.
I am delighted to find you both so well pleased with the Blind Book scheme.[94] I said nothing of it to you when we were together, though I had made up my mind, because I wanted to come upon you with that little burst from a distance. It seemed something like meeting again when I remitted the money and thought of your talking of it.
The dryness of the weather is amazing. All the ponds and surface-wells about here are waterless, and the poor people suffer greatly. The people of this village have only one spring to resort to, and it is a couple of miles from many cottages. I do not let the great dogs swim in the ca.n.a.l, because the people have to drink of it. But when they get into the Medway it is hard to get them out again. The other day b.u.mble (the son, Newfoundland dog) got into difficulties among some floating timber, and became frightened. Don (the father) was standing by me, shaking off the wet and looking on carelessly, when all of a sudden he perceived something amiss, and went in with a bound and brought b.u.mble out by the ear. The scientific way in which he towed him along was charming.
Ever your loving.
[Sidenote: Mr. J. E. Millais, R.A.]
GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT, _Sunday, 19th July, 1868._
MY DEAR MILLAIS,[95]
I received the enclosed letter yesterday, and I have, perhaps unjustly--some vague suspicions of it. As I know how faithful and zealous you have been in all relating to poor Leech, I make no apology for asking you whether you can throw any light upon its contents.
You will be glad to hear that Charles Collins is decidedly better to-day, and is out of doors.
Believe me always, faithfully yours.
[Sidenote: Mr. Serle.]
GAD'S HILL, _Wednesday, 29th July, 1868._
MY DEAR SERLE,[96]
I do not believe there is the slightest chance of an international Copyright law being pa.s.sed in America for a long time to come. Some Ma.s.sachusetts men do believe in such a thing, but they fail (as I think) to take into account the prompt western opposition.
Such an alteration as you suggest in the English law would give no copyright in America, you see. The American publisher could buy no absolute _right_ of priority. Any American newspaper could (and many would, in a popular case) pirate from him, as soon as they could get the matter set up. He could buy no more than he buys now when he arranges for advance sheets from England, so that there may be simultaneous publication in the two countries. And success in England is of so much importance towards the achievement of success in America, that I greatly doubt whether previous publications in America would often be worth more to an American publisher or manager than simultaneous publication.
Concerning the literary man in Parliament who would undertake to bring in a Bill for such an amendment of our copyright law, with weight enough to keep his heart unbroken while he should be getting it through its various lingering miseries, all I can say is--I decidedly don't know him.
On that horrible Staplehurst day, I had not the slightest idea that I knew anyone in the train out of my own compartment. Mrs. Cowden Clarke[97] wrote me afterwards, telling me in the main what you tell me, and I was astonished. It is remarkable that my watch (a special chronometer) has never gone quite correctly since, and to this day there sometimes comes over me, on a railway--in a hansom cab--or any sort of conveyance--for a few seconds, a vague sense of dread that I have no power to check. It comes and pa.s.ses, but I cannot prevent its coming.
Believe me, always faithfully yours.
[Sidenote: Mr. Rusden.]
_24th August, 1868._
MY DEAR SIR,
I should have written to you much sooner, but that I have been home from the United States barely three months, and have since been a little uncertain as to the precise time and way of sending my youngest son out to join his brother Alfred.
It is now settled that he shall come out in the s.h.i.+p _Suss.e.x_, 1000 tons, belonging to Messrs. Money, Wigram, and Co. She sails from Gravesend, but he will join her at Plymouth on the 27th September, and will proceed straight to Melbourne. Of this I apprise Alfred by this mail. . . . I cannot sufficiently thank you for your kindness to Alfred.
I am certain that a becoming sense of it and desire to deserve it, has done him great good.
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