Corpus of Modern Scottish Writing (CMSW) - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk/cmsw/ Document : 220 Title: Letter from Hogg to Murray, 5 May 1821 Author(s): Hogg, James Altrive Lake May 5th 1821 My dear Sir I am sure I would be the last man in the world that would teaze you but I wish you may never in your life experience the chagrin and dissapointment that I did this day when our carrier called and had three letters from London and none of them from you. I can very well excuse you overlooking such small matters among your extensive concerns but if you had known of what avail that small sum was to me at this time when laying in stock for my farm I never would have excused you. It is as true as I am writing to you that as it prevents me getting a final settlement with Blackwood the want of that sum another forthnight is as much as my credit is worth. I could easily have made him forthcomer for it all as it had been due more than a year but as he had charged me in his account with your half of the last Ed. of The Wake and the Brownie I thought it would be at least as pleasant for you to settle with me as with him and took you for it My bargain for the Brownie was simply a moiety of the profits £100 to be paid in 6 months. I always get one sixth of the whole edition taken at retail pr. but am willing to take my share whatever it be Black-wood says a fair medium price should be named and agreed on and he is willing to give whatever you please that is he refers his part entirely to you He is willing to give £50 but more if you think it behoves you to do so After what I wrote to you and what passed between Sir W. Scott and you I would not mention my new work to any other body having strong hopes from what he said to me that you would still be my publisher Indeed he pressed me very hard to come to London and see you and bring my M.S.S. with me [apprising] me of a hearty welcome. The thing was out of my power but after neglecting me so long I have lost all hopes of your powerful name My bargain for the Queen's Wake 1000 copies was £100. at 12 months from the time of publication It is now two years and Blackwood paid me his part last year. Now my dear Murray I am not jesting I charge you by all that is dear both to yourself and me to send me what is my due by the return of post and though you may think I am too importunate believe me I cannot help it, therefore let it be in a kind letter else I will be exceedingly grieved I am dear Sir Yours ever most truly James Hogg To J. Murray Esq. Murray ///½ John Murray Esq 50 Albemarl Street London 8 2[¿] 3/3 May 5/21 J Hogg Esq