On February 13, 1862, he wrote from Magdalen College, Oxford, “I have defeated Conquest, and am just concluding the greatest drama I ever wrote,—­viz., my own version of ‘Never Too Late to Mend.’  I will send you out a copy in manuscript, and hold back for publication.  But I fear you will find that no amount of general reputation or particular merit of the composition offered will ever open the door of a Yankee theatre to a dramatic inventor.  The managers are ‘fences,’ or receivers of stolen goods.  They would rather steal and lose money than buy and make it.  However, we will give the blackguards a trial.”

On March 22, 1862, he wrote, “Only yesterday I wrote to you in considerable alarm and anxiety.  This anxiety has been happily removed by the arrival of your letter enclosing a draft for the amount and Rudd & Carleton’s account up to date.  I think you showed great judgment in the middle course you have taken by accepting their figures on account.  All that remains now is to suspect them and to watch them and get what evidence is attainable.  The printers are better than the binders for that, if accessible.  But I know by experience the heads of the printing-house will league with the publisher to hoodwink the author.  I have little doubt they have sold more than appear on the account.”

On March 7, 1862, he wrote, “Many thanks, my dear fellow, for your zeal; rely on it, I will not be backward in pushing your interests here, and we will have a success or two together on both sides of the Atlantic.  I mean soon to have a publishing organ completely devoted to my views, and then, if you will look out sharp for the best American books and serial stories, I think we could put a good deal of money into your hands in return for judgment, expedition, and zeal.”

On March 28, 1862, he wrote, “You are advertised with me this week in the ‘Saturday’ and ‘London’ Reviews.  Next week you will be in the ‘Athenaeum,’ ‘Times,’ ‘Post,’ and other dailies.  The cross-column advertisements in ‘Athenaeum’ cost thirty shillings, ‘Literary Gazette’ fifteen shillings, and so on.  You will see at once this could not have been done except by junction.  I propose to bind in maroon cloth, like ‘The Cloister:’  it looks very handsome.  I congratulate you on being a publicist.  Political disturbances are bad for books, but journals thrive on them.  Do not give up the search for scrap-books, especially classified ones.”

He wrote me on April 2, 1862, “This will probably reach you before my great original drama ‘It is Never Too Late to Mend,’ which has gone by a slower conveyance.  When you receive, please take it to Miss Kean” (Laura Keene), “and with it the enclosed page.  You will tell her that, as this is by far the most important drama I have ever written, and entirely original, I wish her to have the refusal, and, if she will not do it herself, I hope she will advise you how to place it.  Here in England we are at the dead-lock.  The provincial