Hunt was then, with his brother, joint editor of the Examiner, and preferred writing for the newspaper to contributing articles to the Quarterly.

On Leigh Hunt’s release from Horsemonger Lane Gaol, where he had been imprisoned for his libel on the Prince Regent, he proceeded, on the strength of his reputation, to compose the “Story of Rimini,” the publication of which gave the author a place among the poets of the day.  He sent a portion of the manuscript to Mr. Murray before the poem was finished, saying that it would amount to about 1,400 lines.  Hunt then proceeded (December 18, 1815) to mention the terms which he proposed to be paid for his work when finished.  “Booksellers,” he said, “tell me that I ought not to ask less than L450 (which is a sum I happen to want just now); and my friends, not in the trade, say I ought not to ask less than L500, with such a trifling acknowledgment upon the various editions after the second and third, as shall enable me to say that I am still profiting by it.”

Mr. Murray sent his reply to Hunt through their common friend, Lord Byron: 

John Murray to Lord Byron.

December 27, 1815.

“I wish your lordship to do me the favour to look at and to consider with your usual kindness the accompanying note to Mr. Leigh Hunt respecting his poem, for which he requests L450.  This would presuppose a sale of, at least, 10,000 copies.  Now, if I may trust to my own experience in these matters, I am by no means certain that the sale would do more than repay the expenses of paper and print.  But the poem is peculiar, and may be more successful than I imagine, in which event the proposition which I have made to the author will secure to him all the advantages of such a result, I trust that you will see in this an anxious desire to serve Mr. Hunt, although as a mere matter of business I cannot avail myself of his offer.  I would have preferred calling upon you today were I not confined by a temporary indisposition; but I think you will not be displeased at a determination founded upon the best judgment I can form of my own business.  I am really uneasy at your feelings in this affair, but I think I may venture to assume that you know me sufficiently well to allow me to trust my decision entirely to your usual kindness.”

John Murray to Mr. Leigh Hunt.

December 27, 1815.

“I have now read the MS. poem, which you confided to me, with particular attention, and find that it differs so much from any that I have published that I am fearful of venturing upon the extensive speculation to which your estimate would carry it.  I therefore wish that you would propose its publication and purchase to such houses as Cadell, Longman, Baldwin, Mawman, etc., who are capable of becoming and likely to become purchasers, and then, should you not have found any arrangement to your mind, I would undertake to print an edition of 500 or 750 copies as a trial at