Corpus of Modern Scottish Writing (CMSW) - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk/cmsw/ Document : 195 Title: 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 11 3 /2 Almanack Richardson Blacks & Co [¿] [¿] [Colburns] [¿] [¿] [¿] his acceptn Cuviers}only Theory}nowunderstood it opened [¿] haste B[¿] [¿] never [¿] [¿] Co[¿] [¿] [¿]