cellanies_ does not prosper quite
so well....

Thanks for your too friendly and generous expectations from my
wit. Alas! my friend, I can do no such gay thing as you say. I
do not belong to the poets, but only to a low department of
literature, the reporters; suburban men. But in God we are all
great, all rich, each entitled to say, All is mine. I hope the
advancing season has restored health to your wife, and, if
benedictions will help her, tell her we send them on every west
wind. My wife and babes are well.

--R.W.E.

XL. Emerson to Carlyle

Concord, 28 April, 1839

My Dear Friend,--I received last night C.C. Little & Co.'s
proposition in reference to the stereotyping the _History._
Their offer is based on my statement that you proposed to print
the book in two volumes similar to ours. They say, "We should be
willing to pay three hundred dollars for the use of plates for
striking off five hundred copies of the two volumes, with the
farther agreement that, if we wished to strike off another five
hundred in nine months after the publication of the first five
hundred, we should have the liberty to do so, paying the same
again; that is, another three hundred dollars for the privilege
of printing another five hundred copies;--the plates to be
furnished us ready for use and free of expense." They add,
"Should Mr. Carlyle send the plates to this country, he should be
particular to ship them to _this port direct._" I am no judge of
the liberality of this offer, as I know nothing of the expense of
the plates. The men, Little and Brown, are fair in their
dealings, and the most respectable book-selling firm in Boston.
When you have considered the matter, I hope you will send me as
early an answer as you can. For as we have no protection from
pirates we must use speed.

I ought to have added to my account and statement sent by Miss
Sedgwick one explanation. You will find in the account a credit
of $13.75, agreed on with Little & Co., as compensation for lost
subscribers. We had a little book, kept in the bookshop, into
which were transferred the names of subscribers from all lists
which were returned from various places. These names amounted to
two hundred, more or less. When we came to settle the account,
this book could not be found. They expressed much regret, and
made much vain searching. Their account with me recorded only
one hundred and thirty-four copi