Letter from Henry Mayhew

Pages

1 2 3 4

Page 1


line 1: 3 Kensington Square
line 2: Thursday March 3/1859
line 3:
line 4: Gentlemen
line 5: I am engaged upon a
line 6: book after the style of "the
line 7: Peasant Boy Philosopher" (which
line 8: I think you reprinted) & founded
line 9: on the early life of Benjamin
line 10: Franklin. The title will be
line 11: "Young Benjamin Franklin or
line 12: the Lessons of Life" The purpose
line 13: of the work is to show you this
line 14: in a narrative & attractive
line 15: - or rather dramatic form the
line 16: use of energy will and prudence

Page 2


line 1: in life. Indeed it seeks to teach
line 2: worldly rather than natural
line 3: science like the Peasant Boy –
line 4: with the American people I
line 5: expect the book will have
line 6: considerable success as it ??
line 7: of early American life and
line 8: endeavours to pourtray (sic) the
line 9: "economy" of the Franklin
line 10: family at the candle store
line 11: "at the corner of Hanover and
line 12: Union Streets" in the city of Boston.
line 13: The object of my writing at
line 14: present is to offer you the early
line 15: proof sheets of the work should you
line 16: think it likely to prove worth
line 17: the printing to you. The better half of the book?

Page 3


line 1: is now done and about a fourth of the
line 2: work ahead in type. The sum I should require
line 3: in return would be £100 and if the volume prove the
line 4: large success in America that I anticipate a
line 5: further douceur – the extent of which I should
line 6: leave to your own liberality. I should also
line 7: text is obscured
line 8: I thought highly
line 9: of the idea – but more fortunately as a book for

Page 4


line 1: the American market and indeed offered me
line 2: very large terms for it. At present the price I
line 3: get is £300 but the publishers have unfortunately
line 4: for me been obliged to arrange with their creditors
line 5: and I am completing for there (sic) assignees or trustees
line 6: (I know not which).
line 7: I have thought it best to write you direct. Should
line 8: You agree to the terms proposed I will send you the
line 9: proofs as fast as I get the revises from the printers
line 10: so that the English & American Edition could appear
line 11: simultaneously – Please to answer by return of
line 12: mail & believe me to be Gentlemen Yours in all sincerity
line 13: Henry Mayhew