my own risk, and give you one half of the profits.  After this edition the copyright shall be entirely your own property.  By this arrangement, in case the work turn out a prize, as it may do, I mean that you should have every advantage of its success, for its popularity once ascertained, I am sure you will find no difficulty in procuring purchasers, even if you should be suspicious of my liberality from this specimen of fearfulness in the first instance.  I shall be most happy to assist you with any advice which my experience in these matters may render serviceable to you.”

Leigh Hunt at once accepted the offer.

After the poem was printed and published, being pressed for money, he wished to sell the copyright.  After a recitation of his pecuniary troubles, Hunt concluded a lengthy letter as follows: 

“What I wanted to ask you then is simply this—­whether, in the first instance, you think well enough of the “Story of Rimini” to make you bargain with me for the copyright at once; or, in the second instance, whether, if you would rather wait a little, as I myself would do, I confess, if it were convenient, you have still enough hopes of the work, and enough reliance on myself personally, to advance me L450 on security, to be repaid in case you do not conclude the bargain, or merged in the payment of the poem in case you do.”

Mr. Murray’s reply was not satisfactory, as will be observed from the following letter of Leigh Hunt: 

Mr. Leigh Hunt to John Murray,

April 12, 1816.

Dear Sir,

I just write to say something which I had omitted in my last, and to add a word or two on the subject of an expression in your answer to it.  I mean the phrase “plan of assistance.”  I do not suppose that you had the slightest intention of mortifying me by that phrase; but I should wish to impress upon you, that I did not consider my application to you as coming in the shape of what is ordinarily termed an application for assistance.  Circumstances have certainly compelled me latterly to make requests, and resort to expedients, which, however proper in themselves, I would not willingly have been acquainted with; but I have very good prospects before me, and you are mistaken (I beg you to read this in the best and most friendly tone you can present to yourself) if you have at all apprehended that I should be in the habit of applying to you for assistance, or for anything whatsoever, for which I did not conceive the work in question to be more than a security.

I can only say, with regard to yourself, that I am quite contented and ought to be so, as long as you are sincere with me, and treat me in the same gentlemanly tone.

Very sincerely yours,

LEIGH HUNT.

This negotiation was ultimately brought to a conclusion by Mr. Hunt, at Mr. Murray’s suggestion, disposing of the copyright of “Rimini” to another publisher.