Prospectus For The Westminster Review, 10 October 1851
Title
Prospectus For The Westminster Review, 10 October 1851
Title
Prospectus For The Westminster Review, 10 October 1851
Sender
U
Recipient
U
Place
London
Letter Content
Prospectus For The Westminster Review, 10 October 1851
Text: Combe Papers, National Library of Scotland.
Mr. John Chapman, having become the Proprietor of the Westminster Review, invites attention to the enclosed Prospectus.
Mr. Chapman hopes to confirm and extend the influence of the Review, as the chief organ of liberal opinion, by engaging the co-operation of the highest talent and culture; and, being aware that this can be permanently secured only by a regular system of remuneration, he proposes to pay all contributors at the rate of 'a312 12s. per sheet. As, however, he is not in a position with regard to capital to bear the whole weight of the enterprise, in addition to the large payment he has already made for the copyright, he relies on those who, concurring with him in his aims, have the ability to further them pecuniarily, to aid him in carrying on the work with the thoroughness necessary to its adequate success.
The present circulation of the Review is 1000, and if it should merely continue at this rate, without any increase in the number of Advertisements, Mr. Chapman finds that the expenditure necessary to the conducting of the work in the manner he desires, apart from any profit to the Publisher or remuneration for Editorial labour, would exceed the receipts by 'a3500 a year. But he believes that the advantages conferred by the intended mode of management would so increase the circulation, and consequently the value of the work as an advertising medium, that by the end of four years this surplus expenditure would be at least met by the proceeds of sale and advertisements, and that hence the need for assistance from those who are interested in sustaining the Review as an organ of free opinion would be only temporary.
The arrangement Mr. Chapman would suggest for adoption between himself and the friends who may be willing to aid him, is, that they should advance him such sums as may be convenient to themselves, in the form of loans, to be repaid at the end of four years, in proportion as the circulation of the Review shall have yielded a profit beyond a reasonable indemnification for the labour of management. In the meantime, and so long as such sums shall remain in Mr. Chapman's hands, he engages to supply, for every sum of 'a320 advanced, a copy of each number of the Review, as it is issued, in lieu of interest. At the end of each year the Accounts will be submitted to every Subscriber who may wish to inspect them.
The required sum of 'a32000 has already been reduced to 'a31200 by a donation of 'a3200 a year from Edward Lombe, Esq.
London, 142, Strand.
Oct. 10th 1851
Text: Combe Papers, National Library of Scotland.
Mr. John Chapman, having become the Proprietor of the Westminster Review, invites attention to the enclosed Prospectus.
Mr. Chapman hopes to confirm and extend the influence of the Review, as the chief organ of liberal opinion, by engaging the co-operation of the highest talent and culture; and, being aware that this can be permanently secured only by a regular system of remuneration, he proposes to pay all contributors at the rate of 'a312 12s. per sheet. As, however, he is not in a position with regard to capital to bear the whole weight of the enterprise, in addition to the large payment he has already made for the copyright, he relies on those who, concurring with him in his aims, have the ability to further them pecuniarily, to aid him in carrying on the work with the thoroughness necessary to its adequate success.
The present circulation of the Review is 1000, and if it should merely continue at this rate, without any increase in the number of Advertisements, Mr. Chapman finds that the expenditure necessary to the conducting of the work in the manner he desires, apart from any profit to the Publisher or remuneration for Editorial labour, would exceed the receipts by 'a3500 a year. But he believes that the advantages conferred by the intended mode of management would so increase the circulation, and consequently the value of the work as an advertising medium, that by the end of four years this surplus expenditure would be at least met by the proceeds of sale and advertisements, and that hence the need for assistance from those who are interested in sustaining the Review as an organ of free opinion would be only temporary.
The arrangement Mr. Chapman would suggest for adoption between himself and the friends who may be willing to aid him, is, that they should advance him such sums as may be convenient to themselves, in the form of loans, to be repaid at the end of four years, in proportion as the circulation of the Review shall have yielded a profit beyond a reasonable indemnification for the labour of management. In the meantime, and so long as such sums shall remain in Mr. Chapman's hands, he engages to supply, for every sum of 'a320 advanced, a copy of each number of the Review, as it is issued, in lieu of interest. At the end of each year the Accounts will be submitted to every Subscriber who may wish to inspect them.
The required sum of 'a32000 has already been reduced to 'a31200 by a donation of 'a3200 a year from Edward Lombe, Esq.
London, 142, Strand.
Oct. 10th 1851
Citation
U, Prospectus For The Westminster Review, 10 October 1851, 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/95581