C O P Y

Blacke Castle-Roan-

March 5, 1856

Dr. Madam:

My being from home has occasioned unavoidable delay in my
answer to your letter and when it does reach you it cannot I fear
be satisfactory. I have no knowledge of terms of publication as
generally made by London booksellers having little or no intercourse
with any but the late Mr. Johnson and his successors. My father
and friends have usually made all agreements for me.

For your guidance I can only mention that for the first
book I published Mr. Johnson considering it as a venture from a young
author without a name and to be published without name, gave me
20¢ - for the whole copyright. It was one thin vol. octavo "Letters
for Literary Ladies".

I had afterwards 40¢ a volume for Parents Assistants --- for
the whole copyright of the four first volumes. Of the latter volumes
the copyright was sold for a much higher price. But that I think
unnecessary to name as it was after many years of authorship and cannot
be any assistance to your judgment in the present case.

Except in my last publication, Helen, I never had any bargain
made for one edn. This was made in consequence of advice from literary
friends not to part with the whole copyright. But I apprehend that
with a first work you would (from my own experience in selling the whole
copyright) find the sum offered for an edition scarcely worth your accept-
ance.

I am afraid to mislead you by my opinion - therefore can only
say that I should consider 50¢, - a volume for the whole copyright of a
first work very handsome remuneration. But I hardly think more than
a hundred pounds will be given for an anonymous book in 3 volumes.

I forget what advice of mine you allude to as to having a witness
present at any agreement you might make. All that I could (torn off here)
be that verbal agreements are apt to be misunderstood unless you have some
witness present to appeal to afterwards and I should recommend that all
agreements should be made in writing.

Written to -
Miss Waring
Annes Grove
Castletownrock