I am convinced you will ultimately find that you have been foolish and maliciously advised about the disposal of your new work.
You ought to have done justice to your own feelings and not have been induced to act against your conscience as you have done.
You know well what is due to me in this affair; but you are not to be blamed—you have been led astray by a go-between, whose conduct at my house ought to have excited your lasting contempt.
The history of all literature will do honour to my offers, and I am resolved to stand or fall by the liberality of my conduct towards you. My offer of two hundred pounds and fifty pounds for future editions, is all that reason could expect. In asking three hundred pounds, you were advised to be very unreasonable.
I say this in perfect good humour, being stimulated to
write by something which has passed to-day from a
| A SUCCESSFUL AUTHORESS. | 275 |
