“I subscribed the ‘New Tales of my Landlord,’ containing ‘Pontefract Castle.’
“As you have had the impudence, considering your notoriously bad character, to intimate that I have committed a fraud on Messrs. Longmans, I write first to say that you are a liar in regard to that assertion, and that you know well you are a liar while you utter it.
“And, in the second place, that you are a scoundrel and a swindler; and in order that I may not appear to say so without foundation, take a walk down to Brompton.
“I am Mr. Fearman’s man, and consider myself the only proper person (and indeed I am almost ashamed to put myself on a level with you), to answer so paltry and worthless a fellow. You must be the most grovelling blackguard that ever lived to make use of the following expressions:—
“‘But when the trick was found out, many of the honourable dealers refused to receive even a single copy!’
“Now, so far from that being the case, Messrs. Longman have sent to renew their numbers twice; and the trade well know that, in answer to letters from Messrs. Whittakers and Ogles, ordering a certain number, Mr. Fearman in one line declined their subscription altogether; but that afterwards, on Mr. Whittaker’s calling, it was arranged that he should have fifty copies, and, at his particular request, a promise of fifty more was made.
“N.B. Unless you apologise to me, and in a very satisfactory manner too, I shall take steps which will be very unpleasant to your feelings.”
