Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

UNGENEROUS OPPONENTS. 109
was not a farthing to divide, and that even if the whole of
the impression were sold off there would not be £70 of clear
profit, consequently that their half share at some distant period,
if ever, would only be £30 or £35. You were so much convinced
of the justice of what I stated, that you said you would
go to them again and eijdeavour to show them the propriety
of making some more reasonable proposal. When you returned
you showed me a statement of profits, claims, &c., on the basis
of which they considered themselves warranted in asking from
me £150 in full of all demands. I felt myself so completely
tired of all disputing with your clients, that I had resolved in
my own mind that I would rather sacrifice a hundred pounds
to be rid of them. I therefore told you that though I felt
confident no arbiter would award them anything in the present
state of the concern, yet to get matters settled in an amicable
way I would agree to pay them £100. After some further
conference we concluded the matter by dividing the difference,
which, if your clients agreed to, the matter was settled. You
called on me at the Eoyal Exchange between four and five, and
pressed me much instantly to write the letter of agreement.
I could not then conjecture any reason for such urgent haste,
and I told you that it was quite impossible for me to do it
at that moment, but that I would be glad to see you at my
shop at 8 o'clock, when we could exchange missives in a regular
way. You called accordingly, and we exchanged the missives,
with mutual assurances of satisfaction at this amicable close of
all matters of dispute.
The haste of the conclusion was, it afterwards ap-
peared, in order that the bargain should be finally
made before the publication of the *' Printed Paper,"
in which these ungenerous opponents went over the
whole question again, charging the publisher with a
series of petty dishonesties, with eluding their claims
for payment, and with keeping them in ignorance of
the state of affairs—all of which are, we fear, the stock
accusations of unfortunate writers who quarrel with