Volume I Part 11 (2/2)
”Dec. 11, 1839.
”Without wasting either your time or my own by expressing surprise at the tone of your last letter, I shall as clearly as possible reply to its contents. First--I sent from this, four days previous to the despatch of the preface and dedication of 'Lorrequer,' the whole of No. 11, minus such pages as I intended to add to the proof, and which I hoped to do with more effect by that time. I therefore wound up the story with such small abilities as I possess, neither huddling the catastrophe, as you are pleased to imply, nor in any manner injuring the success of a work in which, I would humbly think, my interest is scarcely inferior to your own. As I am very far from wis.h.i.+ng any hasty expression to escape me, I shall not allude to the paragraph of your letter concerning the moneyed advantages you speak of for a different termination, but proceed to clause 2. I am not willing to extend the work to 15 numbers. My reasons shall be quite at your service if you care for them.”
_To Mr Alexander Spencer._
”Brussles, _Dec_ 18, 1839.
”The post which brought your letter conveyed also one from M'Glashan in a very angry tone, half implying that my new book was withdrawing my interest in 'Lorrequer,' and evidently savage that I was getting at the London market. I answered sharply to each section of the epistle, expressed my sorrow for offering him what suited Bentley to take, and a.s.sured him that my credit as author, _tant peu qu'il sait_, was quite as dear to me as his pence as bookseller could ever be to him. Result a most handsome and apologetic letter from him ascribing his petulance to ill health, and accepting my new book at 50 per No.--the whole to run to 12 to 20 Nos.--i.e., 600 to 1000. Not bad after all, and better than more solid productions, which pay little and are read less.
”Will you then see M'G., to whom I have written accepting his money for 'The Dragoon,' and add, what I have not, that I was, on the arrival of his letter, actually concluding one to Bentley in acceptance of his offer for the MS., but that as _gage d'amitie_ between us, I have stood by him and rejected the ill.u.s.trious d.i.c.k. This from you will conclude the pacific relations so eminently necessary between the fiery and tiger natures of author and publisher, whose business is not 'to die,' but to squabble everlastingly.
”The lost MS. of 'Lorrequer' is, it seems, come to hand, but not before I rewrote or rather wrote another finale. This cost me four sleepless nights and a fit of gout from chagrin and champagne, necessary to bring me up to the scribbling paroxysm.
”What my new book is to run upon I have not as yet the least notion, but trust to chance and after dinner--for invention; and last, not least, to the moneyed stimulus--for material....
”I have been exceedingly gay--dining at the Emba.s.sy and elsewhere, and thinking of everything save book-making. However, as I have not ten pounds in the house, and owe about a hundred, I must haul my wind and bear up in time.
”On second thoughts it will be right for M'Glashan not to advertise 'The Dragoon' by t.i.tle in the last number of 'Lorrequer,'--only 'a new work by Harry Lorrequer.' This, as regards my previous negotiations with Bentley, is necessary.”
_To Mr Alexander Spencer_.
”Brussels, _Christmas Day_, 1839.
”I wish with all my heart that we (meaning John* among the number) could eat our plum-pudding together. If that day ever arrives, G.o.d knows. It is strange enough how few--very few--early friends can be found within the ring-fence of a Xmas fire when the pursuits of after-life have laid hold on them. We three are a striking instance of it....
* His brother, the Rev. John Lever.--E. D.
”I meditate a trip to Ireland about April....
”Doctoring here is at zero, the whole world of English travellers having flocked southwards. Though the printing-press stands to me, the physic bottle does not. Since August last, when I returned home, I have not received 50, and have spent 350. The 'Dragoon' must fight me through this.”
_To Mr Alexander Spencer._
”Brussels, _Jan_, 10, 1840.
”The new Postage Act will be a sorer blow to you than even to her Majesty's Exchequer--but from very opposite causes. As I learn it comes into operation on the 12th, I start for the post with it.
”All kinds of misfortunes and delays have befallen my unlucky MSS. of late, and whether the public is ever to see the end of 'Harry Lorrequer'
is more than I can tell. But whatever the faults of the F. O. be, M'Glashan's agent in London has also his share in the calamity, being the stupidest _gauche_ that ever existed.
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