GE to John Blackwood, London, 5 May 1868
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 5 May 1868
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 5 May 1868
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1868-05-05
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, London, 5 May 1868
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
May 5. 1868.
My dear Sir
As to the matter of pounds and shillings I had not, before I received your letter, formed any definite idea beyond this: that I was to be paid only for the number of copies sold. You appear to offer me £300 unconditionally for 2000 copies printed. This I do not wish. If any of the 2000 remain unsold I do not intend to be paid for the copies left on your hands.
Concerning the proportion of interest in each copy sold, which you propose to me, I am of course ill-instructed as to the present conditions that would determine such a proposal, so I must beg you to understand my demurrer as merely interrogative. The only fact I have to guide me is, that for "Silas Marner," a volume of 265 pp. at 12s/ you offered me £200 per 1000 copies printed. 753 I should have thought, therefore, that for a volume of the same size at 12s/6, the proportion of 4s/ on each copy sold would not, unless there are some altered conditions of which I am ignorant, be larger than reasonable calculations would allow. But if I am under any illusion, you will set me right.
We have not seen Mr. William Blackwood yet, but we heard from Col. Hamley that he was in town on Sunday. It will be an amusing coincidence if he should come in today, for Mrs. Nassau Senior whom he met here before, 754 has sent word that she will be here at 4 o'clock. This second rencontre would not, I imagine, be unpleasant to either.
Mr. Lewes will write tomorrow, when the proofs will be ready. I am a good deal knocked up, and look very much like a persecuted witch.
Always yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
John Blackwood Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
May 5. 1868.
My dear Sir
As to the matter of pounds and shillings I had not, before I received your letter, formed any definite idea beyond this: that I was to be paid only for the number of copies sold. You appear to offer me £300 unconditionally for 2000 copies printed. This I do not wish. If any of the 2000 remain unsold I do not intend to be paid for the copies left on your hands.
Concerning the proportion of interest in each copy sold, which you propose to me, I am of course ill-instructed as to the present conditions that would determine such a proposal, so I must beg you to understand my demurrer as merely interrogative. The only fact I have to guide me is, that for "Silas Marner," a volume of 265 pp. at 12s/ you offered me £200 per 1000 copies printed. 753 I should have thought, therefore, that for a volume of the same size at 12s/6, the proportion of 4s/ on each copy sold would not, unless there are some altered conditions of which I am ignorant, be larger than reasonable calculations would allow. But if I am under any illusion, you will set me right.
We have not seen Mr. William Blackwood yet, but we heard from Col. Hamley that he was in town on Sunday. It will be an amusing coincidence if he should come in today, for Mrs. Nassau Senior whom he met here before, 754 has sent word that she will be here at 4 o'clock. This second rencontre would not, I imagine, be unpleasant to either.
Mr. Lewes will write tomorrow, when the proofs will be ready. I am a good deal knocked up, and look very much like a persecuted witch.
Always yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
John Blackwood Esq.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, London, 5 May 1868, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/92687