Letter from Blackwood to Murray2, 11 Dec 1814

Author(s): Blackwood, William

Sunday
Dec 11 1814

* You have forgot to return my Acceptance. You can do so
in your next.
My Dear Murray

I intended on Friday to have answered your
letter of the 5th but Mr Allan having brought me your open note
of Tuesday I deferred writing till I had your answer to my letter [including]
this bill* This I recd yesterday but I was so much occupied that
it was not in my power to write you. I am now sorry I [halted]
you, but I thought that all circumstances considered it was no very
unreasonable request, and that it would not have been too inconvenient
to you as it now appears it would be. When I accepted this bill I wish'd
very much to make it six months, as I knew I had my heavy pay=
ments this month, But Mr Arnot told me you had so much to do before
you set off for France I could not answer you, and that I knew I could
have it or any of the others [renewed] if I required it — This I was so well
assured of, that I never thought of speaking to you on the subject,
but I have no doubt he would mention it to you. You know well
enough what situation the Trade has been in since I returned from
London, and how many bills I have had to take up which are lying
beside me for the present like waste paper, and that therefore I am not
less likely to want an extension of the bill than I [was] in the month of
August. Independently of this altogether I thought that to you before
all others I could at any time apply if I required assistance. I need
not remind you of the number of your own acceptances which I have
discounted here for your own acct and many a time put myself
to the greatest inconvenience by, and never troubled you with dis
counting for me in London. Leaving this also out of the question
I reckoned upon your warm & friendly interest in the same way
as I have always relied upon my Brothers — I never applied



to our friend Baldwin, nor intended to do so, but he knowing
what was the state of the Trade here and what I would have had
to do, wrote me in the kindest manner desiring me to draw
on him if it would be of any use to me. This kindness I felt very
much and availed myself of it.

I have said quite enough on this subject, and I hope my
Dear Murray you will believe that as I write you with the same
plainness I would speak to you, I do it for the purpose of there
never being any thing betwixt us that may not easily be explained
to our mutual satisfaction, and that if either of us should not
have done to the other exactly as expected, it can soon be set
right again.

The Kalendar which you sent was of the greatest use
and enabled us to get out the Almanack several days sooner than
we could otherways have had it. Mr Allan & I are much obliged to you
for it, and for the introduction you have given to the Almanack into
such fashionable circles. I hope you will also be able to do something
with it amongst our friends in the Row. J.M Richardson could sell
a good many. It would likewise be a great object if you could get it
properly introduced at the East India House, as there will be several
ships going out soon and it would be most acceptable to Scotsmen
in India. Our Rivals were in such a terrible hurry to get two days
start of us that they published a great many of theirs but without
any [illustration] and of course most incorrect. The character which ours
has attained for correctness will in the end far more than compensate
for the advantage they had in being out two days before us. Next year
by your help I expect we will be able to make such arrangements as
will drive them almost out of the field.

On the 6th I [shift] for you by the Lord Hillington 200 Pilgrims
of the Sun, and 200 Queen's Wake, with 200 Almanacks. On the 8th,



I shift 400 Pilgrims and 100 Queen's Wake. It was by the Author's
desire I put upon the title of the Wake 4th edition. Indeed it appears
to me that this will rather prevent than cause confusion, as both
the publishers and the year are different. I have only 100 left of the Q.
Wake, as there were only 400 in Goldie's stock. It might be worth
your while to try to purchase what Colburn has both of it and
Anster Fair. J Anderson & Co have also a quantity which I have
made Hogg enquire about.

Mr Allan is [¿] a [¿] and will be able to send you a
copy of the first vol in a few days. Have you got the preliminary
matter ready that you [were] once called about?

I was as much surprised at the announce of Guy Mannering
as you could be. I hear some people say it is to be a Border story. I have
not seen Ballantyne since, nor do I wish to call upon him. I am quite
disgusted and cannot comprehend Scott & Co at all. After making such a
palaver and advances the while to end nearly in the offer of such a
trifling [Book] as they [proposed] to us. But as you say a little time
probably clear up matters.

I am glad to hear that Southey's Roderick is likely to
done to it. It is by far the finest Poem I have read for a long time
I believe I mentioned to you that I got a sight of it on a Saturday night
from Mr Rees, and finished the perusal about four OClock on the Sunday
morning. I shall never forget the feelings I had on going to my bedroom and
seeing my wife & infant asleep. You will perhaps laugh at me when I
tell you they were more devotional than any I had ever in my life experienced.
I think that if any husband & parent (who is happy in his family)
reads the Poem and [learns] how poor Roderick's misfortunes spring
from his ill [asserted] marriage, he will enter into my feelings.


I intend to publish The Pilgrims to morrow, but I am not more
sanguine about its success than you are. The portion which he read
us appears to me only part that is interesting. His Milton soaring
into the empyreal heavens will not do. I have sent Mrs [Lands] the
Almanack and will send her & Miss G. the poem.




Mrs [¿]'s new[¿] is to be out on Tuesday — I shall try to
send you some copies by Coach to morrow, as I daresay it will be good.

I wish you had written me sooner your opinion & advice with respect
to Cuvier, as this edition is half printed and is only 750. You may recollect how
often I wrote about it before it was published at all, and wish'd you to take
charge of it. You never made me the [smallest] answer, but when the [Books]
were sent you turned them all over to Mr Baldwin. Write me in [cause]
how you would wish me to do with respect to this edition.
I am
Dear Sir
Yours most [truly]
W Blackwood
Decr 11 1814
Mr Blackwood
John Murray Esq
50 Albemarle Street
London
Murray 21½
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Letter from Blackwood to Murray2, 11 Dec 1814

Document Information

Document ID	195
Title	Letter from Blackwood to Murray2, 11 Dec 1814
Year group	1800-1850
Genre	Personal writing
Year of publication	1814
Wordcount	1303

Author information: Blackwood, William

Author ID	48
Forenames	William
Surname	Blackwood
Gender	Male
Year of birth	1776
Place of birth	Edinburgh, Scotland
Occupation	Publisher, bookseller
Education	School to age 14, then apprenticeship
Locations where resident	Edinburgh