BYRON'S LETTERS TO DOUGLAS KINNAIRD ... - Get a Free Blog

My dear Douglas /
I have to acknowledge the first remittance of circulars – i.e. eighteen hundred pounds
worth. – I did not expect expences to have been so great – as to swallow up almost the whole of Sir
Jacob’s balance – but nevertheless I shall not quarrel with your disposition as it is so much debt
lessened. – –
I am glad too that you have paid M r . Murray’s bill – and if in future – you would pay him at the time
and deduct it from my accompt with you – it would save us long bills. – You did right to retain the
eighty pounds – for my commissions & so forth. – I am not ill off – for the coming year – as I had still
two thousand circulars unspent – & unmortgaged – before the arrival of this reinforcement. –
Nevertheless I shall be glad to see the other eighteen hundred L.S.D. – – – – –
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With regard to what you say about further publication – I have before said – that I cannot take it ill. – it
is the manner and not the matter – of such things – which can offend – & yours (in the present instance)
is plain – to the purpose – meant well – and I trust not ill taken. – No one has a greater right to say what
he pleases to me – than you – who have so much bother and trouble on my account. – – –
But acknowledging all this – I shall not the less contrive to publish till I have run my vein dry. – – If it
is not profitable – be it so – I shall do so for nothing (till it becomes actually a loss) and this because it
is an occupation of mind – like play – or any other stimulus. – With regard to what I sent you a few
days ago (the Mystery) and what I shall send you in a few days (the drama of “Werner”) I shall publish
them with another publisher. – and anonymously if
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you like. – – Indeed – I am much surprized that you say nothing of “the Vision” as you seemed
delighted with it and eager to get it published. – Published it shall be – though even on my own
account. – As I said before the profit is a secondary object – pleasant – if it comes – but to be borne
without – if it does not. – – If you cannot settle with any English publisher – forward them to Galignani
– at Paris – & make any agreement you please – conditional for example – – as each to share – or if he
chooses to purchase the Copy=right – or to divide profit or loss – what you please. – – You can get my
M.S.S. out of Murray’s hand – the Pulci – & c . as I shall most likely collect the whole of what I have in
M.S.S. and publish them at once – My object is not immediate popularity in my present productions
which are written on a different system from the rage of the day. – But
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mark what I now say – that the time will come – when these will be preferred to any I have before
written; – it is not from the cry, or depression of month or two that such things are to be decided upon.
In the mean time I mean to be as [Ms. tear: word implying “productive”] as Calderon and Lope de
Vega. 6 – – –
After all – I rather suspect that Murray has not played fairly with me – I have heard lately two or three
instances of his crookedness – that make me almost believe that he wishes to depress me – and is set on
by something higher than himself. – But never mind – all I require of you of is to get these things I
send you published – & for the consequences – I can meet them. – – As I make no stipulations but
leave that to you – you can have less difficulty – as I shall not murmur. – –
Will you desire M r . Murray
to give up the M.S. (Pulci & c .) and
to place before “Sardanapalus” the dedication to “Goethe” which he [curls up right-hand margin:] has
(like a beast) omitted to prefix.
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P.S.
There is one thing I wish you to state to M r . Murray – it was understood and exprest (by his particular
wish) that the Copyright of Beppo was to cancel all bills of his up to 1818 the date of that publication.
– Now your House date his bill from March
6: Calderon de la Barca (1600-81) and Lopé de Vega (1562-1625) between them wrote over 2,200 plays. See DJ I,
11, 2.
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