Volume I Part 11 (1/2)
_To Mr James M'Glashan._
”Brussels, _Nov_. 1, 1839.
”I have thought so much over the idea of 'The Irish' that I send you a list of subjects conveying my idea of the thing which would, I am sure, beat 'Lorrequer' to sticks. Could I talk the matter over with you I could better explain my thoughts, but 'The French' will sufficiently convey the shape, style, and intention of the publication. Write me your full opinion on this matter, but do not mention it except to some well-judging friend till we think more about it. The ill.u.s.trations should be of the most graphic kind, and the descriptive part as narrative and touchy as possible. I am so full of it that I can think of nothing else.
”List of subjects for 'The Irish, Painted by Themselves': The Irish Artist (only think of Sharpe!), The Country Dancing Master, The Medical Student, The Irish Fellow, T.C.D., The Irish Widow, The Irish Author, The Common Council Man, The Auctioneer, The Irish Beggar, The Irish Lawyer, The Priest, The Boarding-House Keeper, The Hedge Schoolmaster, The Doctor, The Sporting Gentleman, Country Attorney, Popular Preacher, The Hackney-car Man, The Dublin Dandy, The Favourite Actor, The Dublin Belle.”
_To Mr James M'Glashan._
”_Nov_. 12, 1839.
”I sincerely hope that long ere this your withers have been unwrung, and that my friend, Dr Graves, has restored you to the rank of a biped. G.o.d forgive you! what a dreadful thing it might have been to die with such a sin on your soul, for sending me the two last proofs. When did you hear that I was reading Job? They are, indeed, awful: the No. 9 has several blunders, and I am resolved to make the public look to you and yours for them in the preface. See to No. 10 with all the accuracy possible, for in the Mag. it is perfectly unintelligible. (Colonel) Addison has reviewed that splendid book 'Africa,' and you can insert it as a notice.
You ask for No. 11. But No. 11 is not begun!! Nor how it is to be do I yet know. The whole is to be dedicated to His Excellency, Sir H.
Seymour, Minister Plenipotentiary, &c. I have been, for domestic causes, unable to write or read, and scarcely had any time to eat these ten days. Now, however,------
”Don't refer to me as the writer except among your friends.”
_To Mr James M'Glashan._
”Brussels, _Nov_. 1838.
”My intention as regards my new book is to continue 'A Tour on the Continent' with articles originally written in the D. L. G., ent.i.tled 'The Log-Book of a Rambler,' taking the Rhine for a starting-point, thence diverging to the fas.h.i.+onable watering-places into Germany, the universities, galleries, &c., giving sketchy and anecdotic descriptions of new places and things as I pa.s.s; thence to Dresden, Vienna, Prague, Munich, Paris, Brussels, &c., ill.u.s.trating each trait of foreign manner by an essay or tale as it strikes me, all as much in the slap-dash style of 'Lorrequer' as to bear his name, and be called, if you approve of it, 'Harry Lorrequer's Log; or, A Six Months' Leave.' This I intend to be my _grand ouvrage_, and esteem it a dead bargain at 300, which you must give me first. I purpose that you will not be a loser by me, and will make it all that my poor talents can do. In this proposal I hesitate not to say that I am certain that I am not overrating what I can fairly look for. I am very much fatigued and overworked just now, and being pressed besides, can only add that I am ever yours truly.”
_To Mr James M'Glashan_.
”_Nov_. 29, 1839.
”Since I last wrote I have had four applications from Bentley, Colburn, Lardner, &c., to write something in the style of 'Harry Lorrequer,'
but longer and more pathetic. They order a book, as they would their breeches. This speaks well for the success of 'Lorrequer.' I wonder that any of these great men knew the whereabouts of so humble a man as Charles Lever.”
_To Mr Alexander Spencer_.
”Brussels, _Nov_. 29,1839.
”I write in great haste to ask of you to explain away a blunder I have just been guilty of. I have received an offer from Bentley to write a new work to be called 'The Irish Dragoon,' in the 'Lorrequer' _facon_.
The plan appeared to me, the more I reflected upon it, one promising success, and I this morning wrote to M'Glashan explaining how I stood, and told him that for auld langsyne, &c, I wished he might be the publisher if the thing was likely to be profitable,--mentioning that about 40 per No. of the 'Lorrequer' size would be 'the chalk.' Now I made a miscalculation, for I find that Bentley's terms would be equal to 50 a No.; and although I should like to do the civil thing by M'G., yet I am too poor a man to do it at this price. Tell him all this, and say besides that I by no means put it upon him to deal at all--that I merely would say this: You know how 'Lorrequer' has or has not told with the publics--your present experience enables you to say whether you can, with a reasonable chance of sufficient profit give this sum or not--and your answer can be yea or nay at once. My wish is--consistently with what I owe to me and mine--to serve him.”
_To Mr James M'Glashan._