books in
that Transoceanic England, New and improved Edition of England.
In January last, if I recollect right, Miss Martineau, in the
name of a certain Mr. Loring, applied to me for a correct List of
all my fugitive Papers; the said Mr. Loring meaning to publish
them for my behoof. This List she, though not without
solicitation, for I had small hope in it, did at last obtain, and
send, coupled with a request from me that you should be consulted
in the matter. Now it appears you had of yourself previously
determined on something of the same sort, and probably are far on
with the printing of your Two select volumes. I confess myself
greatly better pleased with it on that footing than on another.
Who Mr. Loring may be I know not, with any certainty, at first
hand; but who Waldo Emerson is I do know; and more than one god
from the machine is not necessary. I pray you, thank Mr. Loring
for his goodness towards me (his intents are evidently charitable
and not wicked); but consider yourself as in nowise bound at all
by that blotted Paper he has, but do the best you can for me,
consulting with him or not taking any counsel just as you see to
be fittest on the spot. And so Heaven prosper you, both in your
"aroused Yankee" state, and in all others;--and let us for the
present consider that we have enough about Books and Guineas. I
must add, however, that Fraser and I have yet made no bargain.
We found, on computing, that there would be five good
volumes, including _Teufelsdrockh._ For an edition of Seven
hundred and Fifty I demanded L50 a volume, and Fraser refused:
the poor man then fell dangerously ill, and there could not be a
word farther said on the subject; till very lately, when it
again became possible, but has not yet been put in practice. All
the world cries out, Why _do you_ publish with Fraser? "Because
my soul is sick of Booksellers, and of trade, and deception, and
'need and greed' altogether; and this poor Fraser, not worse
than the rest of them, has in some sort grown less hideous to me
by custom." I fancy, however, either Fraser will publish these
things before long; or some Samaritan here will take me to some
bolder brother of the trade that will. Great Samuel Johnson
assisted at the beginning of Bibliopoly; small Thomas Carlyle
assists at the ending of it: both are sorrowful seasons for a
man. For the rest, people here continue to receive that
_Revolution_ very much as you say they do