The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-08

THE STORIES OF HIs POVERTY EXAGGERATED now
THEY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. PARTICULARS
ABOUT THE SALE or HIS BOOKS.
From the fCincinnati) Western Christian Advocate,
Dec. d.
BRoUaHTY FERRY, NEAR DUNDEE,
SCOTLAND, Oct. %. 1854
Jesse SbOrtess, Ed feel highly indebted to
you, my dear sir, and your frieId Mr.. De Lam .ter,
Tor he very krd aud freddy proposal you have
maze to me to come and take up my abode in your
county; and | shall ever bear it in mind while
memory holds place" have always entertain
ed very high estimation OF your country and its
fee institutions; and there is no country In the
world that would be more delighted TO visit and
inspect its social progress and arrangements than
the Northern STATES OF North America.
Had such a proposal been made to me twenty
years ago, should have gladly accepted it, but my
days are, according to tue coarse of nature, draw.
ing b. close. In the coarse Of few weeks shall
have fea he'd the age of eigaty years, which is
about she longest period allotted to man. Much as
/ value your kind prop osal ana ndn esd to remain
in my present lo1 ility during the remaining days
that may be allotted re by the God OF my life, till
/ am called upon to enter the coaiiues Of another
world. Your fTiend, Mr. De Lim4ter a!ludes to
certain public announcements, asif we're In a5so-
lutte want Of the necessaries Of life There las bsen
consit cradle exaggcrat.on In reference to these
circumstances.
IL is true my income has been comparatively
small aud have derived bat small Compensation
for tue copyrights Of my works. My volumes, as
they were .iInted-i MT an The copyrights OF them
were sold at comuaias,gely low prices; and was
,Loactd to take whas The pu iishers c1ose 70 give
me. For example: The i" G tristan pullosop ler'
originally sold for fl26, and, afser s5da., NO
or hree hun diec pages " matter, received ESQ
moie. About titHen cations OF, this worh have
been published. each If which, | presume, pre-
duced at least 1900 10 tee publisher. But never
received any fnfsher compensation, except a few
pou, de, although Sat wok has produced to the
publisher bstween 60 900 and $4,000.
have rad good deal TO do in msintai ling and
11AeAx(DR "a orphan family OK five grandchildren,
whose father and mother died ab,u, twe,ve years
ago, within thlteen days Of each otbcr. Notwi, h.
standing. cannot SAY t3at have ever cesn in
want, although was under the necessity of exc.
cisirg the stTicfest economy in regard TO every
item Of household expenditure; and frequently
have wished 10 enjoy little mne OF the good
things of this lite, both for myself and family,
web as to devote portion 20 phlaathropc pur-
pose. The reposis OF ny poverty never originated
with m, self, for | never made complaint on this
beadto The public. believe the report origin tied
in This way:
An English gentleman called upon me one Gay,
about SIX years ago, and surprising that lived In
somewhat splen0id style. wished Mrs. Dick 20 send
her servsnt with parcel to the hotel az Shich he
lodged but was somewhat astonis1ed ON being IN
formed that she had no servant; and on fnrtber in
qnisy it as found that we were in no Coalition tn
Keep one. A little before this sent memoral,
subscribed by Lore Kinkead, Lord Duncan, &c rye
DuL can, Esq NJ. +. for Dundee, and about dozen
Other gentle to the Premier, Lord JOAN Russell
embodying petition for small pension, but no an
swer ever returned to ii. The gentleman alluded
to afterwards got copy Of the memorial, aud soon
afterwards inserted statement some what exsg1er
ated, in the -dthenGun ard some other London
journals, xhich was copied in several other sspa
pers, and afterwards by the Amaiicsn press. had
no opportunity Of modifying countesacting the
statements Viii, h appeared. These statements pro-
duced several pc unsry testimonials, particularly
from your country AT more especially from Pnila.
delpha, Boston, Cincinnati, AMI other places IN
America. In consequence Of this American mnnifi-
cence, ! am enabled TO live pretty comfortably,
though bot in affuence. Be 30 good as to let your
frien5s know the substance OF what have never
before stated to the public.
Wishing you all the happiness Of lite and an inter.
est in all heavenly and spiritual blessings, am my
dear sir, your much obliged and sincere friend,
THOMAS DiUK.