Copy outletter book British Library Add MSS. 55384 (1): P. 112
My dear Miss Yonge
Will you kindly send back the book by Weinhold. It is for Miss Otté who is going to do a history of North Europe. Miss Keary also has been at work on the same region.
I meant to have dropped you a note tell [sic] you why I sent you Duncans book which I stumbled on in an old book-shop, where after an old habit I was prowling about. I thought this will just suit Miss Yonge in case more Deeds should be needed.’ Hence these volumes[.] I am glad your welcome of them justifies my sagacity.
I have sent the sheets of the Clever Woman to Tauchnitz, and will continue to do so. Also Golden Deed to Mlle von Nathusius by todays post
I am so enjoying the Clever Woman, as indeed are we all. I had not read it in the Ch. Magazine, so it comes fresh. I suppose we may make the same arrangement with it as we did with the Trial. I only propose this difference. I will print 500 more and forgo the stereotyping so that you will have the £200 clear & the plates for the cheap edition. Pray tell me if this meets your views
I wonder if you would help me with a pet scheme which has been running in my head for some time.1 I think I once mentioned it to you. I have been meaning to draw out a kind of programme, but I find it hard in the middle of ones work, I think if you turned it over in your mind a beautiful series would arise in idea, which could be by degrees be realized. I am sure it is a great want. Would you undertake the Editorship of the Series. I think we could get good help from various quarters. Mr Maclear who has just done a little School Book for us has I think a peculiarly pleasant lively style. His slight tendency to a profusion of adjectives is easy of correction. I send you two of his books that you may see what he is like.2 I also give inside a rough programme of what was in my mind. Tell me how you like it. I think we should keep the whole thing quiet till we had 6 or 8 volumes nearly ready & then bring them out in monthly volumes about 4/6 each – like the Deeds. I am sure it would be a boon.
I have not forgotten Miss Murrays affair.But it is hard to write at length. I may say however that it is clear to me that the thing might be a great success, but equally clear that I personally could not take a share in the management, though I would delight in giving any suggestions that I could. I quite agreed in Miss Murray’s views about the way theological subjects should be dealt with, but I think the whole tone should be unostentatiously devout, and [illegible]
I spoke to Mr Hughes (Tom Brown) about it. He would most gladly help, and agrees that the thing is greatly wanted. I wonder if Miss Murray would call again
Yours ever faithfully
A. Macmillan