Publication of The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.
Subject Person/Organization
Washington Irving (1783-1859), Henry Van Wart (1783-1873)
Subject Place
* Untyped Subject Place
Birmingham, UK
Collection
Irving Manuscript Collection
Letter Details
Letter Date
n.d.
Postmark
Notes
possibly early September 1819
Transcription
Transcription
My dear Brother,
Your invitation to Brummy to the christning [sic] came quite unexpected, and has quite perplexed me. I am expectig every day and I may say every hour, a copy of the first number of my work from America - - and it is important I should be here at the time to see if any arrangement can be made here for republishing it -- as I am fearful some Bookseller in the American trade may get a hold of it & think it worth republication: and so run out an edition of it without my (correctin [sic]) adapting it for the London public - - or participating in the profits. Had I my choice I would rather it should not be republished here until more numbers appear & enough could be given at once to stamp its character. I am also busy just now preparing more SS: to send out. It is therefore peculiarly [important that] the article arrive between this & tuesday so that I can see it & speak with a Bookseller, I may be able to come down for a few days but I very much doubt it. If I am not there you must get someone to stand godfather for me.
I do not wish you to mention the reason for my not coming down; for those these small concerns are very important to a man in my situation - - they may appear very trivial to others - -
I long to see you all once more and to have a peep at my namesake who I understand is a miracle.
Give my love to Sally and the young folks -
Your Affectionate Br.
W.I.
Transcriber
Elizabeth Bradley from Washington Irving: Letters, Vol. I 1802-1823, Eds. Ralph M. Aderman, Herbert L. Kleinfield, and Jenifer S. Banks (Boston: Twayne, 1978) 565
