Sir,

Mr Furnival has forwarded to me your proposal of dealing with me for my tale of the Clever Woman of the Family as a book - I should be obliged if you would let me know your terms for publishing on commission; and like wise if in case of such an arrangement being practicable, whether you would take charge of my works that have been hitherto in Mr Parker’s hands - All have been published ... continue reading

Madam, I shall have much pleasure in undertaking the publication of your new tale 'The Clever Woman of the Family' either on commission or otherwise. The terms for publishing on commission are I believe uniform among publishers. The whole of the publication expenses, such as printing, paper, binding, and advertsing are charged to the author; and a commission of 10 per cent on the sale is charged by the publisher when he renders his accounts. This ... continue reading

Sir,

I am obliged for your letter of the 9th. The MS of the Clever Woman of the Family is not sufficiently forward for the calculations for printing to be made yet. I have however a tale called 'the Trial' which has been coming out in the Monthly Packet, where it will be completed in the early spring when I should wish to bring it out, but it ought to be uniform with the 'Daisy Chain' ... continue reading

Sir,

I am sorry you had so much trouble about the Trial. I was only waiting to send it to you till I heard whether you thought it worth while to look at it so long before hand. I now send it by this post. There are six more chapters not yet in type of about the length of these, but I hope that the last of them will appear on the 1st of March or ... continue reading

Sir, I have now heard from Messrs Longman, so that I can proceed in the matter on which I wrote to you some weeks since.

I should be obliged if you would let me know whether you would undertake my works hitherto in Messrs Parker’s hands, namely

The Heir of Redclyffe

Heartsease

Daisy Chain

Dynevor Terrace

Hopes and Fears

Little Duke

Lances of Lynwood

Marie Theresè of Lamourous

The Young Stepmother

the stock and stereotypes being transferred to you. All these have been hitherto on commission, ... continue reading

Sir,

I am obliged for your letter of the 23d, and the terms you propose. My brother will be in town next week, and will call on you to make the arrangements on any day after Tuesday. Perhaps you would be good enough to send me a line saying on which day he would be most sure of finding you at home. He would be with you at any hour of the morning you would ... continue reading

Dear Madam, I am almost certain to be free any day next week, and shall be glad to see your brother any time from 11 till 5 that he may mention. The only chance is I may be called to Oxford one day next week & do not in the least know which day. So if your brother would kind[ly] name one, with another as an alternative, I will let him know the moment I learn ... continue reading

Dear Sir,

My brother will call on you on Wednesday morning, the 2nd, unless he should hear from you to the contrary. His address is J.B. Yonge Esq

9 Montague Place

Bryanston Square.

I have just heard that there are 50 copies of the Lances of Lynwood ordered, and that there are none in stock.

I think a new edition should be put in hand at once, it is a childs book, with designs by Mrs Blackburn ... continue reading

Dear Sir,

I found the other day that Messrs Longman’s delay in transferring my books to you was rendering it difficult for the retail booksellers to procure them - I therefore wrote to them a day or two ago to urge on the completion of the arrangements and I hope you may soon be able to let me know that this has been done.

How soon do you think it would be advisable to begin printing the ... continue reading

Dear Madam,

I have got all your books now from Messrs Longmans & have been distributing the enclosed circular through the booksellers all over the country, so there ought now to be no uncertainty or difficulty on the part of any bookseller getting your books. But it may be a little time before all chance of misunderstanding ceases. We are advertising your books together as widely & well as we can.

I think it would be as ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge I will see whether we can find some one who would do a few vigorous outlines for the little Duke. Something like those to Kingsleys Heroes. Reproductions of foreign books are not generally successful.

We send the Daisy Chain to press today

I am very glad indeed that you take to our idea. It would do admirable [sic] for a Christmas book. I think you have quite caught the idea I had & I think ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan

Herewith I send enough of the Trial for the printer to proceed with at once. I have erased all the redundancies I could find, and I hope it may thus become less cumbrous - Unless there is some difficulty I suppose there is no need of sending me proofs. Mr Parker wrote to me himself to recommend Phelps who printed the History of Christian Names and as there were a good many letters ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan

Besides what I sent on Monday and the 63 pp I am sending by this days post, there are 380 pp of the Trial in type in the Monthly Packet, and in MS what I should think would make about 45 or 50 more.

I am writing to Mrs Blackburn about her drawings

Yours faithfully C. M. Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan,

I enclose what Mrs Blackburn says in answer to my question about the drawings for the Little Duke - Will you tell me what you think of the matter? I suppose she might improve some of the faces, but I think it is quite open to you to find some other designer. I shall send tomorrow another parcel of the Trial

Yours faithfully C.M. Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan

I am not certain whether it was mentioned that sheets of the Trial were to be sent to Messrs Williams and Norgate to be forwarded to M. Tauchnitz. He has just written to me to ask for them which makes me mention it.

I send the chapters of The Trial, all but the three last, which shall follow in a week or fortnight.

Yours faithfully C. M. Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan,

I am sorry to trouble you again, but will you kindly tell me how to answer the letter from Mrs Blackburn about the Illustrations to the Little Duke, which I sent about ten days ago - You see she says it must be settled quickly as she is going abroad

Yours faithfully ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge I suppose you would like to have the 'Trial' stereotyped. This can be done now at nearly the same cost as the Composition would be hereafter. For readjusting the page and having stereotype plate cast the expense would be £68. I do not know how you have arranged the matter on former occasions. But I suppose that you would probably prefer to purchase the plates and have them as your own property.

The ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, I suppose the Trial ought to be stereotyped that it may stand on the same footing with the other books. In all the former cases I have been at the whole expense of printing, paper, binding &c, and have thus had all the profits, except the commission on the sales - I think the arrangement with regard to the Trial was that I was to receive £200 for 2,000 copies; I conclude ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge .

What you received is an original drawing - not a proof. I am glad you like it so far. I want to reproduce it by the photolithographic process which is at once cheap and accurate. The artist is a very promising young man who is almost self taught & who has done some charming oil[sic]. He wanted to try his hand on book illustrations, and this seemed a good chance for him, if ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I sent the drawing by the train yesterday. It was very dull of me not to have seen that it was a drawing. Our only other criticism is that a touch or two might make the little Duke’s limbs more child like.

As a matter of fact I believe the Normans did not wear beards, but I only found this out long after the book was out, so book and beard must both stand ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I should be much obliged if you would send a copy of the Trial to M. Guizot’s daughter

Madame de Witt Val Richer Lisieux Calvados France

as she wishes to translate the book. I believe I sent before the list of copies that I should like to have sent out. I hope the book will appear soon now

Yours faithfully C.M. Yonge

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

Dear Miss Yonge I enclose a list of the presentation copies we have sent out. Including those to the Press. I dont know whether there are any other papers that you have been in the habit of having your books sent to. I will send any you suggest gladly.

I am sorry that your parcel went by a route that is inconvenient to you. We will remember again when we have any thing to send.

We will advertise ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan,

There is one more copy of the Trial that I should like to have sent to the Press - i.e., to Events of the Month, Mozley’s, 6 Paternoster Row - it is a sort of school room Athenaeum which I wish to help forward

Thanks for your note. I hope nothing will prevent my meeting Mrs D Macmillan and I shall be glad to talk over your scheme, and see if it comes within ... continue reading

My dear Sir,

Your paper on Bridge Bracing has not come to hand. I am rather hesitant whether Mr Masson has any article on American affairs for the September number. If he has not I will ask him to see whether yours wd suit him. You know he is the chief who has authority. I shall be very glad if it does.

In the mean time I tell you that the paper has not reached ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge I am very sorry to have missed you when you called today.

I will take my chance of finding you at Mr Gibbs tomorrow between 12 & 1 & will bring the MS which is at the printer with me.

After much searching my clerk, whom I sent to Piles Coffee House could not recover the story about the little girl I wonder if you will be able to find it

Karamsin has been translated ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, We are still constantly reminded by our own condition of the nursery tale of the old woman whose rope -rope would not hang butcher - butcher would not kill ox, &c &c, only unluckily the last link in the chain does not stop at 'I shall not get home tonight', but as long as plasterer will not plaster stairs and stairs can’t be gone up &c, &c, I cannot finish Golden Deeds!

I can ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, We are at home at last and in three days more I hope to send up the copy for the printer of all the ancient history Golden Deeds. Of course he will let me have the proofs. I hope the delay will not prove to have been of consequence. Are there to be any vignettes to the chapters, if there are, there is a story of the Coliseum which quite asks for one ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge We shall be very glad indeed to see the Deeds become words in print. I meant to have no illustrations except the vignette which I have had in my other Golden Treasury books. This has been 'exercising' me a good deal of late. I cannot hit on either the sort of subject or the man to do it. I would be most grateful to you for a hint. I am inclined to send ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan The first instalment of Golden Deeds shall start tomorrow - it is all ready except one extract.

About the engraving. If a merely typical one, I think a figure rushing between some prostrate form and receiving a murderer’s stroke would express the spirit of the whole.

The individual scenes that seem to tell their story best, and to express the whole in one would be such as Sir Philip Sidney rejecting the water - Horatius ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan Herewith are the first division of Deeds. I will put a short preface before the introductory chapter I have sent. There are some bits to touched up in the proofs - i.e. the scenery of the Decius story - and of the 'the Chief of the Arverni'. I shall get at my books better in another week, but I will not delay longer.

Also I wrote in the stock gladiator lines (which hackneyed as ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, The lamp is decidedly a bright thought. I will add a bit about Miss Nightingale to the introduction to bring it in appropriately.

Yours very truly C. M. Yonge

Dear Miss Yonge

There are three aspects of [illegible] Miss Bonham Carter, not [illegible] is the artist. I saw it in his studio and concluded it was his own. Of course we can only engrave one of the three. I think unquestionably the one looking to the right.

Please tell me how you like it

Yours ever truly A. Macmillan

Dear Mr Macmillan, Will you kindly give me your advice on this letter? It is written to friend of mine at Philadelphia who seeing my 'Clever Woman of the Family' was about to appear in parts in 'the Living Age' wrote to enquire about it. This is Mr Littell’s answer.

I should tell you that Appleton gave me £25 for each of my larger books till the war, when he said he did not get profit enough ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge I will confess to being about as much in doubt of what can be, or ought to be done with the Americans as it is possible for a man to be. I have got for Mr Kingsley £50 to £75, but since the war we have not got a penny for anything.

If the Living Age will give you anything for advanced sheets I certainly would be inclined to take it. Appletons ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, The Clever Woman of the Family as far as she goes will be sent you in a day or two from a friend who had had her to read.

The illustrations are decidedly not successful and I should not wish to perpetuate them. They are not half so good as what Miss Keary’s young cousin does.

There is about a fourth more of the story to come.

I have nearly finished the Golden Deeds, but ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I should prefer keeping the Clever Woman uniform with the other tales, as I think a good many people have a set of them, to which they would add it. And I should be scolded by half my friends for coming out in the 3 vol shape!

I am glad the Trial has done well. I see you are advertising a cheap edition. What are to be the terms for it.

I have this morning ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge We shall deal with the Clever Woman as we did with the Trial as you wish it. Will it be safe to begin printing it or will you prefer waiting till we are a little further on. If we cannot publish before the end of November it would be better to wait till February.

We will be very glad to have all the copy for the golden Deeds. The little extra will not matter. ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I am afraid the Clever Woman cannot come out till March, as Hogg gives me no hope of finishing her before that time—so it would be hardly worth while to begin printing her till the beginning of the year.

I have sent all the rest of the Golden Deeds direct to the printers, they will end with Dr. Kane.

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan If you think this preface will do, please send it to the printer.

I thought some acknowledgment of the sources was due -- and some hint too of what is less authenticated.

I have wound up with a suggestion about penny readings, as I think the book might be useful for it, but if this is not advisable it may come out.

From Monday to Saturday of next week we shall be staying with the ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I send both title page and the proof of the statuette, which is indeed most beautiful and suggestive. I wrote yesterday about the title page. I could not do so before as I only came home late on Saturday and the Sunday post goes early. I enclose the list of presentation copies

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Will you be kind enough to send the sheets of the Golden Deeds to Messrs Williams & Norgate for ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I send the second chapter of the Dove because I hardly think the first can be long enough for one of your numbers.

Christina does marry the young baron secretly but most of the adventures concern her sons.

I shall be well pleased with the terms you propose, if the story will answer the purpose.

I sent off one last chapter to the Golden Deeds yesterday

Yours very truly C. M. Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan Please to let me correct two things in the list of presentation copies of the Golden Deeds

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Miss Margaret Lonsdale 28 Westbourne Terrace W

Miss Charlotte Fursdon Fursdon Cadbury Tiverton

My dear Mr Macmillan, You once said you would be kind enough to put me in the way of getting any out of the way books. Would you be so kind as to get these sent for for [sic] me - except the second in the list. It is the list from Freytag, and I must confess to finding the German M S too difficult to attempt to write out an order for an English bookseller. ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan Many thanks for your note, and its enclosure.

A French translation of Karamsin would suit me quite as well as an English one. I could make out a German one, but I am a poor German scholar, and take much longer to work at anything in that tongue. However if French cannot be had, I should of course be much obliged for a German version.

Thanks also about Lotty’s adventure. I am nearly sure ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge I have given our printer orders to go on with the 'Clever Woman'. I hope you will receive proofs at once & have a rapid supply. It will make some such work as 'The Trial,' as you wish.

I have corresponded with a friend of yours about 'Events of the Month.' I think the idea admirable the want is a crying one. But it should be [illegible] and well carried out. I hardly ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I have to thank you for sending me the parcel of German books, which I hope will much add to the correctness of my story. I am not sure however that one has not come for me to which I have no right -Alt-Nordisches Leben Von Dr Karl Weinhold -

Miss Keary told me that you had promised to get for her some Old Northern books, so perhaps it was meant for her. In ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Otterbourn was turned upside down yesterday by a grand wedding, so that I could accomplish nothing but sending off the book without writing.

I am much obliged by your proposal about the Clever Woman, and shall be well satisfied with the terms you propose, - and very glad not to have the stereotyping taken out of the £200. It strikes me that there ought to be another sheet in the first volume; as there ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge That extremely excellent and instructive person 'The Clever Woman of the Family' will be duly introduced to all your friends as per list. I trust we shall have her 'out' in a very few days, when your wishes will be attended to in this and also in regard to the other books you give me a list of instructions about. I am in occasional correspondence with Mr Henry Wilberforce, at least he ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, I think I ought to refer to you a request I have had from Dr and Mrs Vaughan for leave to put two of the stories in Golden Deeds i.e. 'The last fight in the Colyseum', and the faithful slaves of Haïti into a ]book of readings for National Schools acknowledging where they come from, but I conclude that you have no objection. When there is a reprint, I have another faithful ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge I am writing to Mrs Vaughan & will tell her with how much pleasure I consent to her using the story from Golden Deeds. I will remind you when we reprint, that you may give us the additional story.

I don’t think I ever congratulated you on the marvellous good scotch you give us in the Clever Woman. I, a western man, from the Land of Burns, claim a classical purity in my ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, This is a quick fire upon a busy man, but there are two or three things to say, and first that Mme de Witt has written to say that the Christian Names have not reached her, and asking whether you have sent them through any Paris bibliothèque where they could be enquired for. I also enclose a direction to which I should like to send a copy of the Golden Deeds. It ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge I sent the copy Golden Deeds to the Princess addressed as you wished to her governess by post yesterday. I hope it will reach her soon.

The copy of 'Christian Names' I sent to Mdme de Witt through Messrs Williams & Norgate, as it would have been expensive to send by post, and moreover would have been apt to get bruised and battered, being large and heavy. They explain that they have not parcels ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge

Mr Sutcliffe is a very old friend of ours. I must write him on the subject of plain hand. He[,] the head of an Educational department[,] ought to know better.

I have sent you four copies of Golden Deeds through Nutt & Wells. I suppose you can get them thence.

My sister threatens you with a letter. But we wanted to see the first chapter in type first. The printer is doing this.

Yours ever truly A. ... 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 Miss Yonge The cheque for £200 was sent you last night. My clerk reminded that former remittances were so made. The monthly payments will be sent the same way.

I am going to have the second chapter as the first set up in type. I will venture to go over it and make any suggestions that strike me.

Yours ever faithfully A. Macmillan

Dear Mr Macmillan, Many thanks. Our letters have crossed but the enclosure was welcome in any way of having it.

I hope to finish Abraham today and send it

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

My dear Miss Yonge I am exceedingly vexed to find that proofs had not been sent to you of the first number of the 'Dove'. I am afraid that it has been much my fault. But as our Editor has generally been in direct communication with the contributors & has given the printers instructions to send, or sent the proofs himself it did not occur to me, and your notes asking for them did not make ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, In the first place I have a beautiful photograph to thank you for, which arrived here viâ Nutt and Wells this morning, and the subject of which much excites our speculations, and adds pleasant mystery to our admiration.

Next I return the first sheet of Bethlehem, the appearance of which I like much. I think there should be a text and a verse to each chapter. Do you wish to have each chapter ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge The photograph is from a picture by Mr Farren the young artist whom I wanted to illustrate your Bethlehem. I was anxious to know that you thought him up to the mark. The picture was from Kingsleys Saints Tragedy, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary carrying her child to the altar in the early morning. I think it indicates a power considerably above average of entering into a spiritual conception. But I should be ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, Many thanks for the cheque for £25 for this month’s Dove. I am not sure whether a letter is still a sufficient receipt, if not please let me know, and I will send a stamped one, but receipt stamps are not easy to come by when one is out of the article, unless we are sending to Winchester, therefore I think it better to acknowledge the cheque at once. And at the ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge Your note will do very well in the mean time. If I can remember, tomorrow, I will get you and send you a small formal receipt book which you will be able to sign with little trouble.

I have only got the first chapter in type, the one I sent and you returned. I read it through once to myself and then aloud yesterday. The impression I had at first was somewhat confirmed ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan I can quite enter into what you say of that first chapter’s meagreness. There were things I wanted to keep in reserve, and I do not think one’s mind gets so worked up to the point /at first as after having gone through all the preliminaries and preparation. I wanted to keep Bethlehem by daylight /on the Gleaning of Right for the Anointing of David, and therefore made less of the scenery ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge, It is most kind of you to take my crude criticism in so good part. I did think of the parts, and your possible motive in dwelling on the opening chapter in the slight way you have done. Still with an eye to what is coming I cannot but think that the opening should be fuller, more sonorous and in a higher key. But I have asked Mr Clay to let ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge I am waiting till the printer sends the whole of what you have sent, in type, before any more detailed remarks or suggestions. I am sure I shall feel more clearly what its effect is when I see it in a larger mass. I am very hopeful both from what I have seen of it and from what you say.

I sent you Cawnpore, because it struck me as so noble in tone, thought ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan,

Thank you for Mr Trevelyan’s Cawnpore, which will I am sure be terribly engrossing reading.

I waited to write both because I was trying to satisfy myself with the beginning of Moses, and because I wanted to see what the London Library would send me. And the latter is just at present - Nothing, so I should be very much obliged if you would lend me Stanley’s Sermons in Palestine and Thomson’s and ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge I quite hope to write to you about the Bethlehem this week. I have the duplicates, but have not got time to read them at a sitting as I meant.

Will you kindly send the Cawnpore notice to me. Mr Trevelyan has just been in. He was much gratified by your estimate of his book. For long your books and name have been familiar and dear in their family.

Yours ever faithfully A. Macmillan

My dear Mr Macmillan, Here is the notice of Cawnpore but I shall not be surprised if you do not think it the thing. The whole was too overpowering to say many words about and I have run into mere narrative more than I meant at first from the very force of the events. I am obliged to send it without any other eye over it, as my mother cannot bear to think of the horrors. ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan I waited to answer till I had my proofs back again. I am not quite sure what is the best line now to take. Indeed I suppose after all that it is never quite possible for one person’s idea to be thoroughly realized by another. My notion was to show first why the Incarnation was needed, and then to trace the gradually expanding promises and stages of preparation - making each of ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge It is most kind of you to take all my suggestions as you do. Indeed I do not want any one else to do the work unless you really find it distasteful to you - which I hope is not the case.

I am quite willing to wait your perfect convenience. I daresay ideas such as the ones I was fancying for the book, are not to be commanded, and it may ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, You are very kind about the undertaking, and I certainly should much regret giving it up, if those very capricious things ideas can be brought into accordance with the plan. But if it will not disturb your arrangements very much, I think I had better look to its completion for the autumn of 1866, rather than the autumn of 1865. I never have quite so much time in the summer, or rather ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan It does not seem after my last letter that this is the moment to write to you about a fresh plan, but this is a matter that Miss Sewell and I talked over together last winter, and which has been waiting since for her to have time to give her mind to it. I send her letter to speak for itself. You know she has for many years taken girl pupils to ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge Any idea of a book that commended itself to you and Miss Sewell as adapted to girls reading must be a good idea. Also my sister-in-law to whom I have mentioned the idea & also shown your letter seems greatly pleased with it. To myself I am afraid that besides the obvious difficulty which Miss Sewell perceives of getting it in due company, there is another which has put itself before me ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge I am sure that when Miss Sewell and yourself meet you will divide the history as it will be best. I only venture to say that it has struck me more & more, as I thought of it that divisions of the History, such as seemed called for should be made as far as possible according to Spiritual or Vital Articulation not by a mere arbitrary division of reigns or countries. I have ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan Somehow my direction book has been faithless and I have missed Mr Masson’s address, so I am sending the new chapters of Dove etc. direct to you. I am afraid the story may be thought to flag a little just here, but I could not help it, and there is plenty of incident to come after the next division.

I think Miss Sewell’s idea was to divide by periods. I think I should ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge The M S. has come all right. Sending as early as - I am thankful indeed you do, to address him here is the simplest way. His private address is 2 Newton Villas Finchley New Road. N.W.

I shall be very glad to hear about the result of your conference with Miss Sewell. My only feeling in the suggestion I made re - Montfort was that each volume - supposing it is found ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan I think Miss Sewell and I pretty well came to this conclusion that the first of our periods should begin with William the Conqueror and end with the absolution of King John, so as to make its leading idea the great strife for supremacy between Church and State. I believe we have plenty of materials for a volume. She under takes the compilation of the materials, and I am to write the ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge I have seen the lithographer this morning and shown him Miss John’s drawing. He, I am sorry to say, was more emphatic against it than even I felt. Would you mind my going to my friend Mr Farren I do not like seeming to slight your friend but indeed I doubt much whether Miss Johns could do justice to the charming story. Mr Farren has greatly improved since he did the [[cmybook:20]Little ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge Mr Maclear’s address is

Rev G. F. M. 24 Elgin Crescent Kensington Park Gardens[[footnote:1]

Many thanks for your kind [illegible] about the illustrations. I think on the whole it would be dangerous to employ an unpractised pencil. On some future occasion I shall be very glad indeed.

My people at home have been reading your cameos, and think they would make a nice book. I am inclined to think so too - in a cheap form

Yours ever ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan Would you be so kind as to add your signature to this cheque. I never perceived the omission till I sent it to be changed.

My brother has been seeing Huntley and Palmers biscuit manufactory, and has written an account of it, which he tells me to offer to you, in case it should be supposed suitable to the Magazine, it is really very curious and entertaining.

I am afraid the earlier cameos want a ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan Thanks for repairing the omission. I believe ladies always enjoy gentlemen doing what they are so apt to do themselves.

I enclose my brothers biscuits, much hoping they may answer the purpose.

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

My dear Mr Macmillan I send the rest of the MS of the Dove in the Eagle’s Nest as it is all finished now, and I shall be going from home about the beginning of September into Devonshire first, and then perhaps to London some time in October - when I hope I may see you.

How soon will the last chapters of the Prince and the Page be wanted? Since it began to come out I ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge The MS. reached us safely. I will [illegible] distribution in the months

We shall be very glad to see you when you come to town. It is just possible that I may be gone to America, but my wife & sister are at home; and we recently made a valuable addition to our neighbourhood , 'the author of John Halifax',whose husband Mr Craik, has become my partner, has taken a house quite near ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Thanks for the cheque. I enclose the receipt.

I do not know whether the British Museum has a copy of Theurdanck - probably it would I think, but if you should be in Oxford, there is a beauty at the Bodleian, a much better one than that which I have here, which is only lent to me.

You should also look at the wonderful wood cuts in ‘Der Weise König.’ There is a demon sitting ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge The colonial conscience exists as you see in relation to copyright. If you will kindly sign the enclosed receipt we will be able to recover for you munificent sum of 11/8d. for the wrong done you by the sale of Yankee reprints in British territory.

I am not going to America after all, & will, I trust have the pleasure of seeing you at my house when you come to London. Will you kindly ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Thanks, here are the receipts. I think I once got 5/ in like manner before from the Cape. I am not able yet to speak with any certainty of our plans. We have just offered ourselves to my uncle for the 8th of September, and there is such a vista of relations to stay with when once we get into Devonshire, that I do not think we shall come to London till the ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge on money [?] I enclose a cheque as usual. I am off on a brief holiday to Scotland, my American trip being abandoned for this year. I hope to be home for good & may it be so - by the end of September and quite looking forward to seeing you when you come to London in October. In case you have any point of importance to bring before the press, a ... continue reading

Dear Sir, Mr Macmillan asks me to answer to you the lady’s enquiry about the Strayed Leaves, which are strayed indeed!

The fact was that I wrote a sort of conclusion to Heartsease, which was called Last Heartsease leaves. It was not worth publishing, but it was printed for a bazaar some years ago, and I have never heard the last of it. I put it at last into the last number of Events of the Month, ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge I am home again and at work, having greatly enjoyed my holiday.

I hope to see you soon in London. Will you kindly give us notice when you are coming. I am anxious to see what can be done, if anything in the way of a vignette for the “Dove”.

Yours ever truly A. Macmillan

Many thanks for the information you kindly sent Mr Craik

My dear Mr Macmillan I enclose the receipt with many thanks. Your letter followed me hither this morning. I think we shall be in these parts about a fortnight longer - and shall then come to a place about a couple of hours of London - whence I hope to run up for a few hours to town, and I shall then be able to talk over matters with you. I fancy it will be somewhere ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan My London plans have dwindled down to the smallest span - i.e. - to running up for a day with my sister in law on Wednesday the 25th. I hope to call at 16 Bedford St somewhere between 12 and ½ past 4.

Would you send me a line to say whether I shall find you, and if one time is more convenient than another. Please write by Mondays post as I shall have ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge I shall be here on Wednesday from 12 till 4½ and very glad to see you. Only much regretting that your stay is to be so short.

Yours very truly A. Macmillan

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

My dear Mr Macmillan, Most of these illustrations I like very much, they are full of life, and the King very dignified, if they are lithographed I suppose it is too late for alteration, but the faces of Eleanor in the second, and of the Page in the first are rather distressing, and I think that in the second the page is rather too short and stocky to give the notion of one who was to ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan By no means did I mean the graceful little lamp on Golden Deeds - nor the Dove in the Sunday Book - nor the well in Cawnpore. I meant such a high priest and book as are outside Smith’s Biblical dictionary; or some of the whole pictures of men and women one often sees upon books, - spoiling the whole effect of the real illustration within. It was odd that I asked my ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan Will you direct this on if you know the address - if not perhaps Mr Williams would kindly do so. M. Pichot wrote to ask my sanction for translation of the Dove, and I answered that I had already given permission to Mlle Souvestre. But the next thing I heard was that Mlle Souvestre had given it up for want of time so that I must write to him again, and I had ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I have written a new preface and sent it to Spottiswood. If I did not send the former one to you I wonder what I did with it, I suppose it will come out of some strange corner.

I am glad you and Mrs Daniel think well of the Chaplet. I only wish I could give my French ladies more French grace. I have about four chapters more written but not re written, and ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I suppose the Prince and the Page will be out next week, so I enclose a list of the presentation copies. I hope I sent back the last proof, but it was only of the index, so it matters not at all, unless it has caused a delay. It has been a confused week, for the little girl, after some days of hopeful improvement suddenly lost ground and died early on Thursday morning. ... continue reading

I would think that Mr Lea’s proposal was a very good one, and that the Golden Deeds might be very useful as such a class book. But I imagine that to give it currency, it would be advisable to get it placed on the list of books recommended by the Council of Education people. I suppose there would have to be some omissions to make it into so cheap a book.

Yours sincerely C M ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I shall be very glad to mark off the chapters that would suit best for the school abridgement of Golden Deeds. Having tried some on my own school children I can do it the better. I should fancy the reading book Mr Lea proposes to be something of what Dr Vaughan was about, and I also know a lady who I believe has one in hand.

Tell me how soon you would like to ... continue reading

Dear mr Macmillan, The Prince and Page look very well, and I hope will thrive as well as they look. I think I sent the names for the copies - but I suppose the general mass of them are not ready yet.

If my brother’s M S about the Reading Biscuits is not available and can be recovered he would be very glad to have it again.

With all Christmas wishes to the Elms party

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan I think I was to have 6 copies of the Prince and Page sent to myself - also in the same parcel one of the Heir of Redclyffe. I have seen nothing of them so perhaps they have been forgotten or come to some mischance by the way.

With all new years greetings Yours sincerely C M Yonge

My dear Mr Macmillan, The books came last night all right - many thanks. There are some touches to be put to the Dove in the Eagle’s Nest for which I had better have the proof sheets. Indeed I think that printers are very apt to make quite gratuitous mistakes in working from what is in type.

I am told that the Latin word on Ebbo’s tomb is wrong, and ought to be Demum, indeed I ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Thanks for your kind letter and for the payment. I quite agree to the Sunday Library being brought out in parts, as a good plan. I think if it were made pretty and attractive children would take it in for themselves. The difficulty to me at present seems to be, how to embrace the various subjects without being desultory. I suppose you mean that each part would be complete in itself, though three ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan Thank you for your kind full letter. I feel great confidence in Dr Vaughan, and should consider his as a very safe name to sanction the Library; and I think all the arrangements shew great consideration for my views. I think I could well work under them. I believe that the toleration that you ascribe to me is rather for persons than principles. I do very greatly admire many persons who I think ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I should very much like Miss Keary’s help in the Sunday Library. Mr Ashwell the Principal of the Training College at Durham is the gentleman I should most like to ask for help, but I had rather not ask him till we have the sanction of Dr Vaughan’s name.

I only hope he (Mr A) may have time, but gentlemen are always so busy, and it is but a very select few who can ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan I am sorry that Dr Vaughan cannot undertake to give us his name. I wish indeed that the Archbishop of Dublin could, but if it is in vain to fly so high, what do you think of Dean Alford? I do not know him personally, nor would his name give the same complete confidence to the High Church as those before mentioned, but it might be the best attainable.

I had only thought ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I have been slow in answering you, but the fact is that I have been rather knocked down by a bad cold, and reduced to little more energy than is necessary to look over the sheets of the Dove. Indeed I am told to do as little as possible just now, and therefore I think I must lay aside that which I have hardly taken up the Sunday Library superintendence. I am sure ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I am in rather a fitter condition for thinking than I was in when I wrote my last note, being really under the necessity of getting the subject off my mind, as a bad attack of influenza set it haunting me. Now I am all right again only still obliged to do little, and to look forward to a holiday in Devonshire in May. Meantime I still feel strongly that I could not ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Thanks. A parcel sent to me on Friday directed not to Winchester, but to Bishopstoke Station would be nearly sure to come in time, but we often have delays at Winchester. I am sending the revise of the preface today.

I will write about the other copies - but I have not time to write out the addresses at this moment. I rather regret the view of Ulm. General illustrating of the whole set ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan Our start from home is fixed for the 30th of this month. I suppose there is no chance of my getting any copies of the Dove before I start. I was obliged to delay further by having a revise of the preface where the printers had contrived to make a good many gratuitous mistakes. I never knew Messrs Clay so long printing anything. If there is no chance of your sending me a ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I enclose the list of the other copies of the Dove to be sent out besides my own dozen. Our day of departure is still fixed for Monday, but it is very likely to be put off till Friday. I suppose you naturally send copies of my books to the Guardian but it is odd how it has ceased to notice them.

If Miss Keary’s new book is finished at the same time, I ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I have now had time to think over the Book of Heroes, and have been making out a list of those whom I think worthy of the name.

But two or three difficulties occur to me.

In the first place is not the name too much like Mr Kingsley’s mythological book? People could never be expected to keep 'the Heroes' and the Book of the Heroes distinct in their minds. I think if I had ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I like the name of the Book of Worthies. I think I might begin with mentioning the old Nine Worthies, and then say that here we set forth whatever multiple of nine it may be possible to produce.

I believe that 'nine-worthiness' is a word, which perhaps may sanction it! though I am afraid it is only one of the Carlyle’s words.

Worthy is a vague word, which is convenient. How would 'Good men and ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I see Old Sir Douglas is living and thriving once more, so I write to ask whether you wish for the first instalment of the Chaplet of Pearls for October, or whether you wish to wait till the end of one of the present stories. I have written almost to the end, but it wants plenty of re-touching. I have had so much interruption that I /often could not go into work that ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Can you tell me how far back in time the reservation of the right of translation goes-? There is a pretty story of Paul Feval’s in the Feé des Grèves which my mother translated, and I want to have in the Monthly Packet. It was printed in 1853, and is out of print in France, and there is no notice of reservation of translation in the title page - however by way of ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, We - ie Miss Sewell and I - send off by train today the first section of our extracts for your inspection. They are intended to cover the reigns of Williams I & II, exclusive of the first Crusade - which is to class in with the other crusades in the next division. There is a list in the pencil of the Authors and subjects, we took long pieces because there is ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, These Germans to whom I engaged that they should have early sheets and translate the Chaplet of Pearls now want me to have it copied for them at once, a thing I am not inclined for, but if you can at all tell me when it is likely to begin, I should know how to answer them. I am not in haste on my own account only I want to know what ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Would you be so kind as to send an order for me for Sir F. Palgraves History of Normandy and England. I cannot get my Cameo’s [sic] correct without it, and Dr Moberly’s copy on which I reckoned proves to be packed up for leaving Winchester so as to be unobtainable. I can do nothing till I get it, and though I could order it from the London Library, one is kept often ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge . I am glad the Chaplet is going on. I do so want it in the Magazine, but the two stories now going . . . drag their slow length along. Poor Mrs Norton has been very ill, and had trouble in her family ever since we began. This month she writes from Rome that she cannot send anything. I fear her life has been & is very sad, and one has no heart ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, The Chaplet of Pearls is done, and I shall send it by train tomorrow, being glad to get it out of the house, as it entices me into touching it up when I ought to be doing other things. I am afraid you will think that though it is not a story without an end, yet the end is very far away - but it would not be shorter, and judging by the ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge [illegible] the Chaplet duly arrived. The minimal changes you propose seem to me quite sufficient. Benson will do very well. He was in my young days a popular gentleman on the stage - at least in London which was my only way of hearing about such things.

I will write you about the other matter in a day or to. St John’s seems to me very similar to the earlier one. I had an ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I return the two letters, somewhat appalled at Miss Yonge’s statement that the 'Library' is to edit itself & no one is to be responsible. Of course this is not in accordance with your wish but do you not think it is a mistake which is certain to arise unless I - as Editor - take all the correspondence from the first. I see the force of your objection that I am a ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I believe we agreed that except to those who know me my name shall not be mentioned as Editor of the Sunday Library. I think this, as you say, wise & desirable, but my difficulty with regard to Miss Yonge is that she says there is to be no editor. This of course is quite another thing & would be a very grave misunderstanding & one that would seriously affect me.

For all cases ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I have been more fortunate than I had expected & have much pleasure in sending you a carte of Harriet Martineau which, as you know, I had not expected to obtain. I have not seen her, nor have I sent my letter of introduction, but her niece - to whom one of our friends had written - called yesterday while we were at Furness Abbey & we propose going to the Knoll tomorrow.

Meanwhile ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge, [First page largely indecipherable, but seems to be concerned withThe Danvers Papers ]

The Sunday Library is making progress I hope. . . I have found it useful to have someone to depute the correspondence to and combat the kind of [illegible] on the spot to take matters over. A lady friend of Mrs Craik, a Miss Martin, has undertaken this. She is a lady of quite exceptional poise & cultivation, with extensive ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge The first instalment of the Book of Worthies has just come to hand. I will at once send it to the printer, as I shall be glad to get it out if possible for the summer. I quite feel that you are right about the length of the Biographies. Too great brevity would lessen the interest of the stories, and a few well told & pretty fully told is better than many made ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge

I think I have got a most charming gem of Alexander, whom I was contemplating as one vignette. I am afraid he was rather an unworthy in some ways. But who is always worthy. This face is so beautiful. It is engraved by Worship[?] from the Besborough [sic] Collection. You shall see it.

Very faithfully yours A. Macmillan

Dear Miss Yonge . The presentation copies will be attended to. The book however is hardly yet in the binders hands. Books like 'long-tailed birds of Paradise' will not light at the end.

I am glad that the Danvers name seems connected with Mr Peabody. We should send him a copy.

The 62 pages of your law[?] makes 92 of the Book of Worthies (I am afraid I [illegible] I like our first title best) so we would ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Thanks for the books which the carrier will probably bring today. I will betake myself to St John’s pupils at once, though it is rather a sudden change from the banks of the Granicus, where I left Alexander.

And there is another thing that I should like to know ie - the sum that will come to me both for the Pupils of St John and the Danvers Papers. The reason I ask is ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge I am much obliged to you for so kindly undertaking the new work I hope when you are once in it you will find it not less pleasant than the others.

I propose paying you the same for that as I will for the Worthies. The amounts which will be due to you next half year & part or the whole we can pay you any time after August 1. are:-

Pupils £200 for copyright

Cameos ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge I have arranged with Mr Armitage a painter of considerable reputation particularly for pictures of Sacred & Christian subjects to draw us three designs for your The Pupils of St John. As I hope we may be able to make our start in January, it will be needful to be getting on with both the drawing and the engraving. Could you give Mr Armitage any hints that would enable him to make ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I send you three four chapters that I have finished. My plan has come to this and I had been thinking of writing to you or Miss Martin about it.

Chapter I, Description of Ephesus

II Work of St Paul at Ephesus

III Life of St John up to the dispersion of the Apostles from Jerusalem

IV The 2nd visit of St Paul to Ephesus - review of all the chief disciples of Paul & John with the fates ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge I write mainly to acknowledge the receipt of your last four chapters, and also to say that your sketch seems to me very good. But were you not to give a third pupil of St John?

I will see Miss Martin today she will no doubt write to you on any point of detail. I do not in the least anticipate any difficulty on point of church arrangements. Only one thing has struck me ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I believe the childish form does not last, it is always cramping and a scratch of the pen will alter it where it prevails.

I was sorry afterwards I had not mentioned St John being recognised by his former pupil, the captain of the robbers, when he went out to be taken by him. It would be a fine subject for expression, and I wonder it has never been taken before. I believe I ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I send up the two next chapters of St John, in case it should be convenient to show Mr Armitage the description of the scene with the Robber. Do you mean to have vignettes? If you do the cup with the serpent should come at the end of the last chapter I send you, and the one I am writing now should have the golden candlestick, I should try for Diana for the ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Miss Sewell tells me you are going to America. Should you go to Philadelphia, and if so would it be very troublesome to take charge of a roll of paper containing an illumination that cannot be trusted by post?

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Dear Miss Yonge I have sent the description to Mr Armitage, who I am sure will be very glad to have it.

About vignettes I am rather uncertain. They are very dangerous. Anything short of high excellence is apt to be commonplace and conventional. The cup with the serpent dos not commend itself to me quite. I am afraid I have not much taste for arbitrary symbolism - meanings in fact I do like and in words.

However ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge . I have forwarded your letter to Miss Martin who has gone to Bude. I am sure there will be no difficulty in arranging matters. Her only object as I understood her was as the Series is to go over a long space there would be serious danger of one book repeating the work of another, and so there would [be] too much of one part given, and details of another that would ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I enclose my letter to Miss Yonge and will you send it on if you think well, but if not will you tell me what had better be done.

I have read her proofs again & the fact is that she is writing a Sunday Story Book (of which there are thousands) and she will not have the story broken up. It is very prettily told and no doubt will be very taking. Miss ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan The sheets came on Tuesday with Miss Martin’s marks, and I have gone over them and marked with ink all that it seems to me that I could well part with. Her marks are in pencil and I see what she wishes to part with is the entire chapters that belong to the Gospels and Acts, which take away all the youth of St John. Now if I might be allowed to ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge I have a hurried note from Miss Martin in which she expresses her gratification at the kindly way in which you have written, and says that 'no doubt you have much right reason on your side', and repeats very much what I said yesterday. I am quite sure she will be satisfied with what you feel free to do in the way of abridgement of those early chapters. But I think ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge' By all means let my satirical country woman send me the novels 'she is not clever enough to write.' I shall certainly give them every attention. You know we Scotch like early Christians love one another. I had a long and very interesting talk with Mr Gladstone yesterday about our Sunday Library in which he is much interested. He asked how we were to adjust and harmonise persons of various shades of ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge I have the pleasure of sending you a statement of publishing doings for the past year, which I am glad to see leaves a larger balance in your favour than we have yet had to pay you. May it go on increasing! This we cannot quite hope as there have been no balances of reprint against you at all this year.

Mr Masson who is much pleased with your story, thinks the title ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge The parcel for Miss Lewis reached Tooting safely, and will not in the least inconvenience me. I will endeavour to deliver it early after my arrival.

I have read the Story of the Scotch girl. It is very interesting - rather sensational in fact. Robespierre, Danton, Napoleon, the Guillotine 'La Lanterne,' a sprinkling of smugglers with a slight dash of wreckers, highly toned Irish, Scotch, French nationalities, a mad woman, suicide, a murder or ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I am getting well again, and gone to work again. Clement of Alexandria is the first authority for the robber story, but Eusebius takes it from him. I have a queer old translation of Eusebius, Socrates and Co - from which I really did expand the account, and so I think I had better leave Eusebius, as it looks less as if it all came out of Smith’s dictionary as in fact much ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge I am very sorry indeed that you should be perplexed about this matter[.] I hope we will be able to arrange it without giving you serious trouble. I was under the impression that you understood that the volume should be about the size of the Hugh Macmillans - between 300 & 400. On May 10 I am sure I wrote to that effect.

As matters stand I think we had better publish in parts ... continue reading

Dear Miss Martin, I have read through Miss Yonge’s “Pupils” yesterday. It really is not satisfactory as regards the earlier part but what is one to do under the circumstances? There is much that is really very fine and especially in the latter part just as well done as it could be. So we must go on. It has occurred to me while reading the extracts from the letters that a complete translation of them ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge I am afraid I omitted to tell you that our intention in publishing the parts is that the parts should not even seem complete, but end at the end of a sheet, or given number of pages quite irrespective of whether a sentence or chapter ends or not. The volumes are to be complete works. Our only motive in publishing extracts is to enable people to pay a little bit at a ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge Thanks for your latest letter. I will have the setting up of the Epistle seen to at once.

Indeed you are a valuable ally for us, in our scheme. The man after all is never very far from the Child, and however much we learn we cannot unlearn what is worth all the learning in the world, the common humanity the recognition and expression of which in words is what we call ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge You shall have all the new matter in slips and the old sheets as they were so that the inserting may be all made at once when it is finally settled what these are to be. I have no doubt the result will be a very satisfactory volume of which we will be proud. Later down I hope you will get [illegible] your more modern volume.

In the meantime there is a small ... 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 Miss Yonge, How do you like the enclosed pages & title page? Will you kindly consult Miss Sewell, the first title was her suggestion. I am [illegible] home at the [illegible]

Yours very truly A. Macmillan

Dear Miss Yonge, You shall see your proposed title which I think an improvement.Readings has been used already.

I conclude that you

[rest of letter indecipherable]

Dear Miss Yonge, We sent the 11 copies to make your dozen by rail the same day that the single copy was sent you by post Feb:27. I have seen in the parcels book the signature of the clerk at the Golden Cross booking office. I have sent down to enquire about it. Perhaps you could enquire at your end. The address was quite clear Elderfield Otterbourne Winchester I am sending you a copy of the ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge, Don’t you think that an Index and some chronological tables would be of similar use to the Cameos? If you agree with me I can get them done. The printer is making a table of contents of which you shall see a proof.

I enclose a letter about the terrible story(?). But I think the Little Duke has been close and [rest of paragraph indecipherable]

I hope you like the gilt-edged copy of the ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge, I have sent on to Miss Sewell Mr Pearson’s book. Could you tell me how much - how many pages - you want to use. I think I may have an opportunity of seeing him soon. He is not likely to refuse.

The story of the Hermits(?) is really wonderful. I cannot tell you how that of Anthony [illegible] me. What moral pictures there must have been there.

I am urging the printers to ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge, I enclose the monthly cheque with best remembrances.

I hope the Cameos will get out by & by. The volume proves thinner than I had expected and I am making calculations as to price. This first edition at 4/6 or even 5/- will not yield much. Are you disposed to sell us the copy right?

Yours very faithfully A. Macmillan

Dear Mr Macmillan, Thank you much for your kind answer. The second set of cameos is nearly all written, but the Monthly Packet must have the first turn of them and that will take a good while - about a year at shortest.

I am afraid you think me very idle about the Worthies. The truth is that my Mother has grown so infirm of late that I have less time than usual, and that time I ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan We are rather disturbed at the delay in printing the Historical Selections as Miss Sewell cannot do any corrections after the end of June, and as she has all the books and has looked out all the selections I could not supply her place.

I suppose the printers are postponing it to something more interesting, but if they cannot go on at once and finish at the end of June it would be convenient ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, Miss Sewell is in want of a volume of Milmans Latin Christianity which the London Library does not send. She will write to you which it is and perhaps you could kindly cause it to be sent to her. I cant think what Clay meant by our delaying the proofs for we had never done so.

I have never had any of Heartsease to put the headings to the pages.

Yours sincerely C M ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge, I send you the first copy of the Cameos which has been bound. It has been delayed about that title page, in which I wanted to produce a cameo effect, [illegible] that may be. The book I am sure is a charming book and we tried to give it an adequate dress.

I think Clay is making better progress with the Selections. Miss Sewell seems satisfied. I have never I think spoken of ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan Thanks for the cheque and for the proposal about the Historical selections. I am sending it on to Miss Sewell to see whether she consents, it is what I myself should prefer, thinking joint accounts would be troublesome. The Cameo looks exceedingly well and gives an uncommon appearance. I should like a copy to be sent to the Dean of Chichester and one to Madame de Witt. To other friends I think ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell, I was so hurried that I could not go to Macmillan yesterday so I am writing.

I have done the notes - the Joyeuse Garde beats both Mary Coleridge and me, we both thought it a real castle on the Seine - and never heard of its being an Order.

Michaud’s Histoire de Croisades has almost exactly the same about Simeon & his persecutions as Milman, and I dont know where to find more ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge, I was from home when your note about Index & Miss Sewell’s suggestion of a chronological table came to hand. But I have not been neglecting the suggestion. We are having a set of proofs made & shall put them into the hands of a competent person and submit the proofs to you.

With regard to announcing volume 3 [Next few lines illegible] the printers want something to do [illegible] and long and ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, I am afraid I have been guilty of a misunderstanding, and of leading Miss Sewell into one, but I thought we were to have £200 for the copyright of the Historical Selections, and I must say I think it is hardly compensation for all the trouble it has given. Miss Sewell has connection enough to secure it a good sale as a school book and we should be quite willing to take ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, The mistakes about Walsingham & Sidney had perhaps better be mentioned in the preface to disarm the critics, and that unlucky Amen must be made an erratum it is so ridiculous in its present position.

Would you notify this to Clay, as I do not know the page.

What do you say to the story of Indian Life I sent you? If you cannot do any thing with it, please write to me before ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I am obliged for the cheque which came safely this morning.

My dear Mother died on Monday, the end coming much more suddenly than we had expected - and very mercifully to close the long course of feebleness of mind and body.

I do not think that I shall be able to do much steady work for some weeks to come, but after that, I hope to return to regular ways

Yours truly C M Yonge

My dear Mr Macmillan, Thank you for your kind note and expressions of sympathy. It is the beginning of a lonely life to me, but I have my brother’s house very near, and full of kindness.

I write now about that unfortunate Cameo which was missed out. The proof of it came to me first numbered XXXVI, which is its proper place, but the revise is XLII, so as to make it seem as if it belonged ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan The lack of a tiger is serious. I mourned it as I read, and yet I thought it shewed some strength of mind to have avoided any ordinary ingredients of excitement. And when we were reading many books aloud, I certainly found this answer better than many with a more direct selling element did, and the freshness of descriptions to me compensated for want of incident. Will you kindly direct it to [[person:1437]Mrs ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan The enclosed rather puzzles me, for I thought it was settled that sheets of the Chaplet of Pearls were to be forwarded to Mr Franke as they were ready for the Magazine?

Will you kindly see if this has been done?

Please send me back Wooed and Won. I must try what I can do with it.

Are you reprinting Kingsley’s Heroes. We tried for both them and Miss Keary’s heroes of Asgard for my ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan A proof of the history of St Louis, I suppose M. Guizot’s has come here, but I do not know the why or wherefore. Is it a mistake?

Mrs Valentine (Mr Warne’s reader) says they do not know anything of having had 'Wooed and Won' sent in. Perhaps you would kindly ask whoever was your messenger to whom he gave it

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Would you kindly have both the Cameos and Historical Selections ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, Many, many thanks[.] the birthday for which the Heroes were wanted comes tomorrow, so nothing can be more convenient. The Lances look very well

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan I enclose a receipt with many thanks, and rejoicings that the books still continue to prosper. I should be finishing another Worthy today if I had not five young cousins spending the day with me, but at any rate old Curius Dentatus will come before the end of the week, I chose him as the representative of the old hardy uneducated peasant king that the first Romans were. Then comes Scipio for the ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I believe the Little Duke has been translated into French, I am sure I have given leave for it, but I do not always hear whether a translation comes to anything

The Cameos would certainly be the better for an Index, I do not think a genealogical table is wanted

I find I still have one of your books, besides Julius Caesar. I will return them together.

The gilt edged copy is very pretty - many ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Many thanks, it is very agreeable to get anything out of America. I have a story of the time of Henry V and James I of Scotland - about half out in the Monthly Packet, and all written. I was thinking of proposing it to you for Christmas when it will be finished in the Monthly Packet. Might not some arrangement be made about it with Scribner. I could either send them the ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan I think I should enjoy editing a Globe edition of children’s books, and am much obliged to you for the proposal. I suppose the question is how many really good ones have exhausted their copy right.

Perhaps Philip Quarl could begin the series, it is really Defoe’s but I doubt if anyone has read it.

I send 9 chapters of the Lion. One object is to make people think of that St Katharine’s charity, ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I hope to call on either Friday or Saturday I cannot say which but I think the morning of Saturday

If this will not do, let me know at 21 Craven Terrace Paddington

I will bring back Julius Caesar and another book of yours

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

My dear Mr Macmillan I shall see Miss Johns on Saturday and have a consultation with her.

I have been prevented from setting about the Storehouse by the almost sudden death - the first day of this month - of one of my dear cousins - the one on whom I relied for looking out the copies of the books that I was to have from Puslinch. I have not been willing to trouble her sister to ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan You will think there is no end to the irons we have in the fire. But the Population of an Old Pear Tree would be finished if we had not lost a number, and had to renew it. I send you the earlier chapters. The places for the woodcuts are marked in the margin.

But my chief reason for writing is to ask if you have heard of Beugnot’s memoirs - he was ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan Please be so kind as to direct on this letter.

I am taking the Chaplet of Pearls to have a final reading by its greatest critics

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Dear Mr Freeman , I waited to thank you for your kind note to see if there was any chance of so getting rid of the old edition of History of Christian Names, as to make it reasonable to put an abridgment much corrected in hand - But unluckily the book was printed in the anarchy of the J W Parker establishment and the edition was too large, so that I do not know how to ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I agree with Miss Sewell as to the alteration, otherwise it will do very nicely. I hope to be at home on the 1st or 2nd of June

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

My dear Madam, I have been having some talk and consultation about the Godmother’s Readings with people who have so much to do with schools as to be really an influence

First, I am advised strongly to do - what I proposed at first - to have the Scripture part, without the comment, printed separately, as cheap as may be, for the children to use, while the teacher has the one with the comment. I do believe ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Have you made any arrangements with American publishers about my Scripture Readings? I think I might perhaps do so, but I should like first to know whether you have any views.

Miss Sewell is very anxious to know when the selections are to come.

I suspect you are from home.

Yours truly C M Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan Do you not think that the parallel history should come out in time for Schools to set themselves up with this winter. The one I wrote it for is crying out for it, and it seems in vain to wait for a neater finish to France than the fall of the Empire.

I am glad you give hopes of clearing off the old History of Christian Names I have them bristling with corrections, and ... continue reading

My dear Arthur Arianwen means silver lady. She was a Welsh saint and the name has never quite died out in Wales, so I suppose the girl has Welsh belongings of some sort. Arian rhod a silver bow is the rain bow, who scares away spirits of wrath there is a charming bit about her in old Davis’s Celtic researches which nobody believes now. Alas! Macmillan took advice about the School room magazine ... continue reading

All right. M sends them to me for nothing. You shall have them. Has he sent you the Scripture Readings

C M Y

My dear Mr Freeman I am not sure whether it be you or Macmillan whom I have to thank for the masterly little compendium that makes your introductory volume. It is a great comfort to be so helped along the line of the Holy Roman Empire. I dare say you know those quaint old books - I have seen two different ones - that give portraits of all the Emperors in succession from Constantine to the ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I am trying the abridging process upon Bishop Patteson, but I hope the latter part can wait to be reprinted till I get the corrections from the Mission itself.

I am much afraid that Lady Martin’s recollections about New Zealand, about which I wrote to you have been lost on the voyage. They were announced, and enquired after, but never appeared

I see the third volume of the Scripture Readings must stop with Daniel’s ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I send the two vols of Bishop Patteson by train today, having done all the abridging that I think they will bear, I believe it is about 100pp in each volume, and a good many lines besides so that with smaller type and thinner paper I think it will be reduced enough.

Since I began this has come the enquiry after the author of the Children of the Forest or the Three Knights. I ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, This is all very satisfactory, thank you much. One thing more. Should not there be a facsimile of the autograph - I should like a page of that exquisitely neat distinct writing which never altered from the time it formed itself at Eton - and which spreads into sheets upon sheets of mine and yet I never stumble at a word.

I must put in a page with a list of the islands arranged ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan

Thank you, I shall be very glad to know approximately the value of those copy rights. I suppose they are worth far more to me than they would be to anyone else, and that if I wished to raise a sum of money, say £5000 or 6000, it would be better to use them as security, since the proceeds would enable me annually to pay off something than to attempt the sale of ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan

Thank you much but it is an impossibility, I have to be at Aylesbury on Monday, and at home again on Saturday.

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan

Thank you for sending me this letter, I am very glad that there should be a Hindostanee translation. I have just heard of one nearer home into German

Yours truly C M Yonge

My dear Mr Macmillan

There is something in Mr Freeman’s essays that he wants me to look at. Would you be so kind as to let me have them - it is the volume with Charles the Bold in it

I hope the two French histories will come out right at last!

I always suppose some one is making holiday in August so I shall direct this so as to be opened by either you or Mr Craik

Yours ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan

Thank you for the proof of the Primer, I hope to send it with additions in another week or so, as soon as I have finished what I have to do for Mr Freeman

I am glad you told me about the printer I wish printers would always mark their proofs visibly

Yours truly C M Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan

I am sending today a third instalment of the Primer with additions, I hope you have had the others safely. I have sent them to you instead of the printers to save further mistakes and will follow them up with the rest

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan

Please let me have the rest of the Primer I thought I had it all, but I cannot find further than what I send.

I am waiting for Mr Freeman’s orders before I send back the French history

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

My dear Mr Freeman

It is a great relief to my mind, though I am very sorry to have been so stupid and to have given you so much trouble and I fear Mr Macmillan so much expense.

I suppose I am fitter to dwell on character than sum up political history. Did you write the article about the truculent pictures in the illustrated papers, I was very glad of it

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

It is a ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan

What I have by me in the way of authorities are the Universal History Lady Calcott’s in English and in Spanish a life of the Cid - Perez de Hyta (whence Washington Irving took his material, but which is only romance) and old Madiema - who is alarming - as he hardly ever has a paragraph, and when he does put a date, does not use figures!

I have picked out a ... continue reading

My dear Elizabeth

I believe (reluctantly) that you are right and that Ebb & Flow is too apposite to the present fashion to bear postponement, I think Macmillan would take such a story as that, and do well by it, I hope to send it off on Monday.

Gertrude thanks much for the paper about the works She has sent off a parcel today Yes, M.Guizot gave me that history of France as it ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan

I must send you my warmest thanks for the very noble life which you have sent me, which I am sure must leave a deep impression on all who read it. I think the letter at p 262 is one that cannot be read without peculiar admiration and reverence - as so entirely the antidote of the spirit of self help.

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

My dear Christabel

Cherry is very satisfactory. The only thing I was not prepared for was Roland’s death, and Dick’s keeping the property I expect he married Nettie after all, though it is quite right not to say so. I like the contrast between Cherry’s feelings in the two illnesses very much, it is rather those of the rest of the family that I thought in danger of repetition. Miss Seyton I think ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan

Thank you very much for sending me this very severe review in the Academy. I feel annihilated, and if my old name does carry off this edition, I will gladly rewrite what calls for it. I really did not know that German criticism had overthrown so much of the old Spanish standard histories to which I trusted, especially for a mere epitome of the old Gothic kingdom, and as I did not want ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan

Very hearty thanks for your kind letter, I will thankfully correct my own careless blunders, of which I know three. I have sent to the London Library for one or two of the authorities but ‘Dahn’s great work’ is not there at all, unless it is more recent than my catalogue, and I don’t think I could properly understand it if I had it

I will keep to the old lines of the ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan

I am today sending Clay the last copy for the Scripture Readings, I suppose we may consider now whether the five volumes can be made more compact and profitable, and I hope Clay will finish off the present one quickly.

Thanks for sending all these notices of the Primer. It is odd I thought I had written up to MacMahon’s election, but perhaps Mr Green thought the siege made a better conclusion - and ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan

It is rather difficult to arrange the order of these books. Heartsease was out before the Daisy Chain indeed those four that I numbered first were meant to answer to the four Seasons, and ought to go together

In point of date, the Daisy Chain and the Young Stepmother are the next, but the Daisy Chain Trial and Pillars ought to come together

What is to be done about the lesser historical ones, ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan

Here is the list of materials for the little Christmas book.

The MS, and the clipping come herewith the four others must be sent by rail in the books in which they appeared. The Autobiography of Patty Applecheeks came out in an American paper, and my copy of it has been lost, but I am sending to Philadelphia to see whether I can recover it. The Wedding cake (a story of a ridiculous mistake) ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan

Old proofs of these Christmas stories have fortunately been discovered so I send them off herewith.

I find I must ask you to be kind enough to let me have £200 on account, or else £100 now and another £100 before Christmas. There have been some unexpected calls upon me which drive me to ask this favour of you, though I am sorry to have to do so so early in the year

Yours ... continue reading

I send herewith the other tale, Selma’s Secret Sighs in a Christmas number

C M Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan

Many thanks for your prompt response which relieves me of a good deal of worry.

Yes there are two short stories to be recovered from America, about the length of the Ghost. One I make sure of in a month or six weeks, the other must depend on the civility of Perry Mason.

They would both come at the end being modern, but if I need write any more to make up the set, I ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan

I am sorry for the mistake, it was not wilful for I looked at the stamp, and found it so pale that I saw nothing but the Cl which I took for Clay.

Will ‘By-words in action’ do for the name of this collection of stories, as all illustrate some saying or other. I have recovered one from America, and will send it in a day or two, but I think it will ... continue reading

Dear Madam

I am today sending your book to Macmillans 29 and 30 Bedford Street, Covent Garden, and asking if they can give you one of my books to illustrate. It might be a good plan for you to call there, tomorrow or next day. Send up your card and ask for Mr Craik or Mr Macmillan, mentioning my name.

If you cannot call, write, and say how the book shall be returned asking if ... continue reading

My dear Madam

I am very sorry that Mr Macmillan was so disappointing. He might as well have looked at the drawings I have been waiting to hear from Mr Ward, 67 Chandos St, Covent Garden He will gladly see you, and I sent him the MS of the Bear and the Goblin. You had better make an appointment with him mentioning my name; and shew him some of your drawings ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan

I have a story all but finished which I think might be printed before this season is over. It is in 30 chapters and is finished to within 6 of the end.

The difficulty is what to call it. The period is from 1681 to 1696 the chief interest a youth who has been thought a changeling and who disappears for 7 years during which he is supposed to be murdered - but is ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge, We will give you the £200 for the copyright of the Cameos. It is a rather full sum but the book is of a kind we like to possess. Some day we will get a series of actual Cameos engraved for it. But in the mean time we contract [illegible] with one for the title page & one for the cover. I think you will certainly like the look of the book.

We send ... continue reading

Dear Mr Riley Have you Mr H H Gibbs’s name-? He is either at St Dunstans, Regents Park or at Aldenham Elstree I should think no one would be more earnest in the cause than he. I would also mention the publisher - A D Innes 31 Bedford Street Strand. Old Mr Alexander Macmillan I am sure would but I am not so sure of his sons though his partner Mr [[person:379]G ... continue reading