THOMAS CARLYLE.

Mr. Murray was willing to undertake the risk of publishing 750 copies, and thus to allow the author to exhibit his literary wares to the public.  Even if the whole edition had sold, the pecuniary results to both author and publisher would have been comparatively trifling, but as the copyright was to remain in the author’s possession, and he would have been able to make a much better bargain with the future editions, the terms may be considered very liberal, having regard to the exceptional nature of the work.  Mr. Carlyle, however, who did not know the usual custom of publishers, had in the meantime taken away his MS. and offered it to other publishers in London, evidently to try whether he could not get a better bid for his book.  Even Jeffrey thought it “was too much of the nature of a rhapsody, to command success or respectful attention.”  The publishers thought the same.  Carlyle took the MS. to Fraser of Regent Street, who offered to publish it if Carlyle would give him a sum not exceeding L150 sterling.  He had already been to Longmans & Co., offering them his “German Literary History,” but they declined to publish the work, and he now offered them his “Sartor Resartus,” with a similar result.  He also tried Colburn and Bentley, but without success.  When Murray, then at Ramsgate, heard that Carlyle had been offering his book to other publishers, he wrote to him: 

John Murray to Mr. Carlyle.

September 17, 1831.

DEAR SIR,

Your conversation with me respecting the publication of your MS. led me to infer that you had given me the preference, and certainly not that you had already submitted it to the greatest publishers in London, who had declined to engage in it.  Under these circumstances it will be necessary for me also to get it read by some literary friend, before I can, in justice to myself, engage in the printing of it.

I am, dear Sir, your faithful servant,

JOHN MURRAY.

To this Mr. Carlyle replied: 

September 19, 1831

SIR,

I am this moment favoured with your note of the 17th, and beg to say, in reply,: 

First.—­That your idea, derived from conversation with me, of my giving you the preference to all other Publishers, was perfectly correct.  I had heard you described as a man of honour, frankness, and even generosity, and knew you to have the best and widest connexions; on which grounds, I might well say, and can still well say, that a transaction with you would please me better than a similar one with any other member of the Trade.

Secondly.—­That your information, of my having submitted my MS. to the greatest publishers in London, if you mean that, after coming out of your hands, it lay two days in those of Messrs. Longman & Rees, and was from them delivered over to the Lord Advocate, is also perfectly correct:  if you mean anything else, incorrect.