nd time Murray was not at home, but he found
that the parcel containing the MS. had not been opened. He again wrote
to the publisher on the following Friday:

_Mr. Carlyle to John Murray_.

DEAR SIR,

As I am naturally very anxious to have this little business that lies
between us off my hands--and, perhaps, a few minutes' conversation would
suffice to settle it all--I will again request, in case I should be so
unlucky as to miss you in Albemarle Street, that you would have the
goodness to appoint me a short meeting at any, the earliest, hour that
suits your convenience.

I remain, dear Sir, yours truly,

THOMAS CARLYLE.

This was followed up by a letter from Mr. Jeffrey:

_Mr. Jeffrey to John Murray_.

_Sunday, August_ 28, 1831.

MY DEAR SIR,

Will you favour me with a few minutes' conversation, any morning of this
week (the early part of it, if possible), on the subject of my friend
Carlyle's projected publication. I have looked a little into the MS. and
can tell you something about it. Believe me, always, very faithfully
yours,

F. JEFFREY.

The interview between Jeffrey and Murray led to an offer for the MS.

_Mr. Carlyle to John Murray_.

TUESDAY.

DEAR SIR,

I have seen the Lord Advocate [Jeffrey], who informs me that you are
willing to print an edition of 750 copies of my MS., at your own cost,
on the principle of what is called "half profits"; the copyright of the
book after that to belong to myself. I came down at present to say
that, being very anxious to have you as a publisher, and to see my book
put forth soon, I am ready to accede to these terms; and I should like
much to meet you, or hear from you, at your earliest convenience, that
the business might be actually put in motion. I much incline to think,
in contrasting the character of my little speculation with the character
of the times, that _now_ (even in these months, say in November) were
the best season for emitting it. Hoping soon to see all this pleasantly
settled,

I remain, dear Sir, yours truly,

THOMAS CARLYLE.

Mr. Murray was willing to undertake the risk of publishing 750 copies,
and thus to allow the author to exhibit his literary wares to the
public. Even if the whole edition had sold, the pecuniary results to
both author and publisher would have been comparatively trifling, but as
the copyright was to remain in the author's possession, and he would
have been able to make a much better bargain with the future edi