Letter from Amelia Opie to Louis Theodore Ventouillac

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line 1: Norwich 5th March 1830
line 2: Respected friend
line 3: I received thy letter yesterday, but
line 4: though I earnestly wished to answer it instantly
line 5: I could not do so as yesterday was not a post
line 6: Day
line 7: I can truly avow that I never imparted im-
line 8: proper motives either to thee or Sampson Low - &
line 9: as to Thomas Dale, I did not suppose he had
line 10: anything to do with the payments –
line 11: Of the ?? I knew nothing, nor did it
line 12: then tell me that the sheets in the Iris
line 13: were to consist of more than the usual
line 14: number of pages which is 16 – then will
line 15: therefore not be surprised at any wrong
line 16: calculation – & I must say that I cannot
line 17: but consider the 20£ according to this ??
line 18: of the subject a handsome remuneration
line 19: as it wasmore than the bargain.
line 20: After all I alone was to blame had there
line 21: been any blame at all, as I preferred myself
line 22: satisfied with that one given me
line 23: I can now only regret that they

Page 2


line 1: had been buried – I have been very unwell
line 2: & thence buried also by slight matters –
line 3: and my indisposition has so reduced me
line 4: that I dare not encounter the fatigue of
line 5: yearly meeting this year.
line 6: My tale shall be sent up (as I intend)
line 7: in two days – I enjoy the idea of your
line 8: having it - respecting as I do the publication
line 9: & the Editors.
line 10: I do understand the terms or ratherI ask for this
line 11: what you gave me for the lasttale. I am told its
line 12: better than the last & I think it is quite
line 13: as long but if not give me only what you think
line 14: I told thee before that I consider these
line 15: are debts of honour & I feel afraid
line 16: that shall you promise, you will give
line 17: when there is no mistake &
line 18: I trust there can be none now.
line 19: Again I can & must certainly assure thee
line 20: I never saw the ?? therefore hadst thee

Page 3


line 1: herald that as the intention to refer to
line 2: I should have been at a loss to reply
line 3: to thee – but it was very easy for thee
line 4: in the hurry of business to omit
line 5: giving me that information which
line 6: would have prevented my mistake.
line 7: If the verses are left at Sampson Low's
line 8: they will be called for.
line 9: I send this letter today because
line 10: I cannot bear to keep thy ??
line 11: in the f??? for a minute.
line 12: I think I shall pass a winter
line 13: at Paris perhaps next winter.
line 14: Some of the ladies best worth
line 15: knowing will then be there.
line 16: I am glad thou art contented with
line 17: England but surely there are some d??
line 18: comforts in Paris. I was at Cuviers every
line 19: 7th day evening & though' it was a Soiree, it was
line 20: comfortable - Farewell. Much thine A Opie