Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

312 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
own collected poems, though of considerably earlier
date, may be added. These poems have faded very
much out of the popular memory, yet they had
some reputation in their day.
J. Wilson to W. Blackwood.
26«A AprU 1824.
With respect to my poems, I prefer writing a few lines to
you, as I dislike conversations about money, although very fond
of money itself.
My wishes are as follows, and my reasons for my wish are as
follows :
—
I wish you to take the copyright for two hundred and fifty
guineas. You spoke of two hundred guineas, and in case of
another edition a hundred more. It does not seem, therefore,
that what I ask is anything much beyond your proposal.
The reason why I wish to sell you the copyright just now
is neither more nor less than that I want money. For I ought
to have had four hundred guineas from you had I done my
duty in writing 'The Foresters' or any other volume — over
this, a proposal for a new book, there would be no difficulty
in settling at once ; but really as to my poems I know not
what may be their value to you, or whether what I now ask
may be at all advisable for you to give. But the value of a
thing is what it will bring the proprietor, and I could have
considerably more than the two hundred and fifty guineas for
the said copyright if I chose to be a Dealer, but that, of course,
is not likely to happen. I wish the poems to be published
by you, and to belong to you, and I have mentioned the
terms.
The same day, this letter having evidently been
answered at once, the Professor explains what seems
the enigmatical character of a part of what had
been said in it :
—
Your acceptance of the terms proposed is prompt and friendly,
and shall be considered such. The offer I allude to was as