ory, the following letter may be given, as addressed to the editor
of the _Morning Chronicle_:

_John Murray to the Editor of the Morning Chronicle_.

ALBEMARLE STREET, _February_ 13, 1837.

SIR,

My attention has been called to an article in your paper of the 14th of
January, containing the following extract from Colonel Napier's reply to
the third article in the _Quarterly Review_, on his "History of the
Peninsular War." [Footnote: The article appeared in No. 111 of
_Quarterly_, April 1836.]

"Sir George Murray only has thrown obstacles in my way, and if I am
rightly informed of the following circumstances, his opposition has not
been confined to what I have stated above. Mr. Murray, the bookseller,
purchased my first volume, with the right of refusal for the second
volume. When the latter was nearly ready, a friend informed me that he
did not think Murray would purchase, because he had heard him say that
Sir George Murray had declared it was not 'The Book.' He did not point
out any particular error, but it was not 'The Book,' meaning, doubtless,
that his own production, when it appeared, would be 'The Book.' My
friend's prognostic was not false. I was offered just half of the sum
given for the first volume. I declined it, and published on my own
account, and certainly I have had no reason to regret that Mr.
Bookseller Murray waited for 'The Book,' indeed, he has since told me
very frankly that he had mistaken his own interest."

In answer to the first part of this statement, I beg leave to say, that
I had not, at the time to which Colonel Napier refers, the honour of any
acquaintance with Sir George Murray, nor have I held any conversation or
correspondence with him on the subject of Colonel Napier's book, or of
any other book on the Peninsular War. In reply to the second part of the
statement, regarding the offer for Colonel Napier's second volume of
half the sum (viz. 500 guineas) that I gave for the first volume
(namely, 1,000 guineas), I have only to beg the favour of your insertion
of the following letter, written by me to Colonel Napier, upon the
occasion referred to.

ALBEMARLE STREET, _May_ 13, 1829.

MY DEAR SIR,

Upon making up the account of the sale of the first volume of "The
History of the War in the Peninsula" I find that I am at this time minus
L545 12s. At this loss I do by no means in the present instance repine,
for I have derived much gratification from being the publisher of a work
wh