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Document : 207

Title: Letter from Smile to Murray, 26 Nov 1859

Author(s): Smiles, Samuel

6, Granville Park Terrace,
Blackheath.S.E.

26 Novr 1859


My Dear Sir


I am exceedingly gratified to
learn that Self Help has gone off
so well. What was the number
sold? I see the Athenaeum gives
3,200 , and the Critic 6,000 ; but
the latter must be a mistake. I
presume the type is still standing ,
as arranged. I will at once
set about making any corrections &
additions — not increasing the letter press —
and when completed , say if I am
to send to the printer direct. I
am now busy with the article on
Mules & Spinning Jennies for the next
Quarterly ( which I expect to be able





to make a very interesting one ) and
should like to be informed whether the
forwarding of the proofs of Self Help be
very urgent. By the way , speaking
of Quarterly articles , I would suggest
one which , though I could not undertake
it myself , you might find some writer
to undertake , and it would be found
extremely full of interest — I mean a
review of the works of Leech , a second
series of whose pen & pencil sketches is
about to appear. Comparison might be
made with Gilray & Cruickshank , &
other humorists in art. But it might
be difficult to find a writer capable
of doing the subject justice.


About the story of Stephenson ,
it occurs to me that I might now
proceed with writing out the story of





Roberts life to be appended to the other ;
and it might also be published in
a separate volume , with cuts , the
type spaced , &  on thicker paper
so as to make a 5/ volume or so ,
with an introductory chapter so as
to make it a book complete in itself , —
for the benefit of those who have already
bought the previous editions of Stephenson's
life. I shall be glad to have
your views on this point.


I have contributed a short article
on the subject of R. Stephenson to Frazer
for December , but have kept
in reserve the more interesting new
matter relating to him , which can
be [served] up in the book itself.

Believe me my Dear Sir

[Yours] faithfully

S Smiles

J. Murray Esq




Nov 26 1859

Smiles S