pleasure than to look over your proofs; in fact, I should be sorry not to do so.  I have not yet found Ganneau’s Nights, but I hope to do so.  My Turkish Edition was burnt many years ago in a fire at Grindlay’s; but you will easily find a copy.  I suppose you read Turkish;[FN#414] and if you do not you will in three months; the literary style is a mass of Persian and Arabic.  You must find out which is the best Turkish Edition.  My copy had evidently been translated from a Ms. very unlike the Calcutta and Bulak. ...  I have told Quartich to send you a cop of Camoens (Lyrics), which will be out in a few days.”

122.  Burton’s Circulars, September 1884.

By September 1884 the first volumes of Burton’s Arabian Nights were almost ready for print, and Burton asked himself how many copies would suffice the public.  He was aware that 1,500 persons were disappointed of being able to obtain copies of Mr. Payne’s Edition, but it did not necessarily follow that all these 1,500 would subscribe to his.  Finally he decided upon 1,000, and he had three circulars printed respecting the work.

The first began “Captain Burton, having neither agent nor publisher for his forthcoming Arabian Nights, requests that all subscribers will kindly send their names to him personally (Captain Burton, Trieste, Austria), when they will be entered in a book kept for the purpose.”  It was then mentioned that there would be ten volumes at a guinea apiece,[FN#415] each to be paid for on delivery, that 1,000 copies would be printed, and that no cheaper edition would be issued.  The second dealt with the advantages of the work to students of Arabic.  The third consisted of an article welcoming the work from The Daily Tribune, New York, written by G. W. S(malley).  Burton posted about 20,000 of these circulars at an expense of some (pounds)80, but received only 300 favourable replies.  Lady Burton, in dismay, then wrote to Mr. Payne begging for advice.  Several letters passed between them, and Mr. Payne sent her the names of the subscribers to his own book and lists of other likely persons.  A second shower of circulars effected the desired purpose.  Indeed it did far more, for the number of favourable replies ultimately rose to 2,000.  But as we have seen, Burton had restricted himself to the issue of 1,000.  So he found that he had made precisely the same mistake as Mr. Payne.  However, it could not be remedied.

123.  The Book of the Sword.

This year was published Burton’s The Book of the Sword, which he dedicated, appropriately, to the memory of his old friend Alfred Bates Richards, who had died in 1876.  It is a history of the sword in all times and countries down to the Middle Ages,[FN#416] with numerous illustrations, the interest being mainly archaeological.  Of “The Queen of Weapons” he ever spoke glowingly.  “The best of calisthenics,” he says, “this energetic educator teaches the man to carry himself like a soldier.  A compendium of gymnastics, it increases strength and activity, dexterity, and rapidity of movement.  The foil is still the best training tool for the consensus of eye and hand, for the judgment of distance and opportunity, and, in fact, for the practice of combat.  And thus swordsmanship engenders moral confidence and self-reliance, while it stimulates a habit of resource.”