Dear Miss Yonge We have at length got the Trial ready. I am afraid you will think we have been somewhat dilatory, which indeed has been the case. Our printer has been busy, and it was somewhat hard to keep him moving with due speed. You will I hope be satisfied with the result as regards the look [illegible] and I think it comes out at a favourable time. We sold about 1200 to start with. ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge I ought to have acknowledged the copy for the new number earlier, but I wanted to write you a longer letter which I cant do today after all.

I would be glad to see what more you have written of Bethlehem, when you have satisfied yourself - or at least approximately - who could satisfy themselves on such a subject. The young Artist is ready to work whenever you like.

Shall I pay the ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, Thanks, I should prefer having the monthly sum in cheques here, but the £200 to be paid to Messrs Hoare. I hope the proofs are coming though it is rather late if the Dove is to come out this month. I am afraid there are some anachronisms in it, and I did not give it the looking over that I should have done if I had thought of not seeing it again.

Here ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan Happening to have an excess of M.S. luggage, I am rather glad to send off an instalment of “the Chaplet of Pearls” instead of packing it up. It threatens to be longer than the Dove, and there is a good deal more still to be written, and probably rewritten.

I believe I omitted to say that it would be the most convenient way to me if you could pay the £235, the balance of ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge Yesterday Mr Craik paid £200 into Hoare’s in your a/c. I hope my not telling you before will have caused you no [illegible]

I am very sorry you do not like the illustrations. It is now impossible to get fresh ones done, and pardon me saying I really like them. I hope you will get reconciled to them by and by

[Rest of letter indecipherable as is the one, dated 22 January 1868, that follows]

Dear Mr Craik ‘Enquiring friends’ kept me in such a whirl on Saturday from the moment I came home that I could not acknowledge the very agreeable parcel I found waiting me, which I need not say I was very glad to see. It is certainly a pleasant amount to look forward to and I see that it does not include the sum for the Abridged Edition of Bishop Patteson, any more than for Lady Hester.

I ... continue reading