John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 7 January 1858
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 7 January 1858
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 7 January 1858
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1858-01-07
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 7 January 1858
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | January 7/58.
My Dear Sir
I inclose memorandum of the subscription to Clerical Scenes as far as it has yet gone. The prospect looks well for the disposal of the edition and I think I shall have the pleasure of making the first and second payments to you at one and the same time.
The Leviathan Mudie was induced to take the 350 by our giving him an extra 10 per cent discount. Do not mention this however as, although we thought it wise to give the discount in this case, as a general principle it is doubtful policy.
We shall not be able to judge for a week or two how the book is really going to take as the subscribers generally are rather more at sea than ourselves and it is only when we know how the books are moving from the shelves of the purchasers that we are able to form a sound estimate of sales.
The review in the Times was a most fortunate circumstance and it was a very friendly act on the part of the potentates of P[rinting] H[ouse] Square. 1050
Mr. Langford, our manager in Pater Noster Row, writes me that he got an early copy off to Lewes and you. Let me know how many more copies you would like or send me a list of friends private or literary whom you wish to receive the book.
Mr. Langford necessarily knows now that the Clerical Scenes came through Lewes, but of course keeps the secret. If L. can look in at P. N. Row at any time Mr. Langford will show him our presentation list in Town and he may suggest additions. He will also be able to show him how the book is going on.
How does the new Tale progress? I think you should be in good feather about it now.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | January 7/58.
My Dear Sir
I inclose memorandum of the subscription to Clerical Scenes as far as it has yet gone. The prospect looks well for the disposal of the edition and I think I shall have the pleasure of making the first and second payments to you at one and the same time.
The Leviathan Mudie was induced to take the 350 by our giving him an extra 10 per cent discount. Do not mention this however as, although we thought it wise to give the discount in this case, as a general principle it is doubtful policy.
We shall not be able to judge for a week or two how the book is really going to take as the subscribers generally are rather more at sea than ourselves and it is only when we know how the books are moving from the shelves of the purchasers that we are able to form a sound estimate of sales.
The review in the Times was a most fortunate circumstance and it was a very friendly act on the part of the potentates of P[rinting] H[ouse] Square. 1050
Mr. Langford, our manager in Pater Noster Row, writes me that he got an early copy off to Lewes and you. Let me know how many more copies you would like or send me a list of friends private or literary whom you wish to receive the book.
Mr. Langford necessarily knows now that the Clerical Scenes came through Lewes, but of course keeps the secret. If L. can look in at P. N. Row at any time Mr. Langford will show him our presentation list in Town and he may suggest additions. He will also be able to show him how the book is going on.
How does the new Tale progress? I think you should be in good feather about it now.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 7 January 1858, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/95288