Feb 25 /93

BRITISH MUSEUM,

London: W.C.

My dear Baxter,

I had already made up my mind that the story of Louis com-
ing to England must be gammon, and now his mother's letter
which you send me proves it.-

No doubt we shall be hearing from him direct either through
her or by the following Samoa mail; and I hope with a budget
of ms.- though it had better be anything rather than the Schoon-
er farralone. [Sic]

I have got a scheme for bringing out a selection of his es-
says (.g w 10 in all, the pick of the three volumes) as a work
of luxe, printed in the most perfect possible way, and perhaps
with a few suggestive writings by good men as accompaniment; a
strictly limited edition, say 500 for England and 500 for Amer-
ica, at 2 guineas, & perhaps with a few extra swagger copies at
5: the booksellers say they would be certain to go, and it would
put money in his pocket. I asked his leave by last Saturday
week's mail, & want to talk to you about it.- Let me know as soon
as you come to town.- By the way, the new Pall Mall Magazine, run
by Astor of the Song Purse, advertises his name among their con-
tributors to be: have you had any communication from them about it?
- or perhaps they have written him direct. I think it would be a
good quarter to place stories long or short (though I should not
try to place the Schooner until we see it), and that they would
probably pay high.-

I am glad to hear you are feeling bodily well; but the weather
you boast of is death to farmers - of whom I am unluckily one, on
a small scale, & will bring us all to the workhouse.

In haste,

Novr 13 / 93

BRITISH MUSEUM.

My dear Baxter,

I am returning to that scheme (which has Louis's sanction) of an
*édition de luxe* of a selection from the three vols. of Essays.-

Chatto & Winders were lukewarm about it when I mentioned it to them: but I will sound them again: and failing them, there are other publishers who would, I know, be glad to take it up at their own risks.

But first, I want you to tell me what rights have C. & W. over these books: have they any, or do they only sell them on commission, leaving us freeto put this fancy edition into other hands if we choose?

The booksellers all tell me that such an edition is absolutely
sure to go off well: say 1000 copies at a guinea, and 250 on jap-
anese paper at £2.2. - and I calculate that with all expenses paid
we ought to get something handsome out of it for L.-

The idea is to have the very best printing and paper that Con-
stables can furnish - there is nobody like them, and I should ask
you to see McClean (is that his name) personally about it when things
come to a point. As to the question of illustration: a symbolical
vignette or capital letter to each essay would be desirable if we
can find the really right man: but only if: and there certainly is
some good and interesting work of that kind being done by younger
men: as may be seen in the present exhibition at the Arts & Crafts.-

By the way - you may possibly not have heard from L. last mail
(but yet you are sure to have done so, either from himself or his
mother) that he was detained in Honolulu, after Graham Balfour left
him, by a sharp attack of island fever.- I wish to goodness he had
gone to some place not malarious, as it is quite certain his new-
cleared jngle in Samoa is.-

Yours ever

Sidney Colvin

Jan 5 / 94

BRITISH MUSEUM.

My dear Baxter,

I am glad you are coming - and shall be at your service on Thursday and Friday evenings - that is if any of us survive this fiendish attack of winter: yesterday was the most unbearable thing I ever knew in England.-

Who do you mean by "the publishers"? What representatives of Cassells? and do you propose to ask Chatto, and Longman - and which Longman? - also.- Do you think after dinner is the best time for business? - and would it help matters, do you think, if I coaxed them here, instead of to the Club.-

Will it be best to tackle them altogether that way? or separately? Cassells have of course now much the largest interest. How will your silence affect them, already in hand, of an illustrated literary edition of David Balfour in 2 vols. for next year? - that's a point which puzzles me. I don't ask these questions by way of objection, but only of question,- and am all in favour of your scheme if it can be carried out.-

If you want to invite your men by tomorrow's post, and think my house would be more comfortable than the Club (I can warrant them a good dinner), ask them in my name.- I have been expecting a mail from Samoa: but hitherto in vain.

In haste

Yours ever

SC

[Copy of letter from Miss Ellen Sampson, investigator at the British Museum, to Colvin, and also copy of letter from Colvin to Baxter. Both letters written on a foolscap sheet]

4 Blumberg Place

24 January 1894

Dear Sir,

I beg to say that I have searched every life of Fulton in the B. M. and find that he had a younger brother, but his Christian name never appears, nor is he even mentioned except as having been born

24 January 1894

My Dear Baxter,

I had to be away for the better part of last [week] or would have answered your note sooner.

I met Mr [sic] Salmon whom all researchers employ on this kind of work at the Museum to look up the [omitted word, probably collateral] lines of Fulton with the result that he finds no mention of any relation called Hew or of any at all except one brother and one sister, neither of whose names are given (see her note and memo of expenses enclosed).

Jerome K. Jerome sent me the proof of an essay of R. L. S. (on the genesis of Treasure Island) for his Magazine - the Idler. Do you know anything about this, or what is the price to be paid and to whom? There is one thing I forgot to broach to you regarding the new Picture Edition of Catriona (Cassels the second volume of proposed David Balfour.) Those birds eye views of Edinburgh and the country as far as North Berwick who arranged about them? R. L. S.? or yourself for him? Because I dont like them a bit. Style and lettering are like those of a building agents prospectus and then the two sheets of them in the Book would be cumbrous and I should like to propose to L (of this mail if I have your answer on the point) to cancel them and get a proper neat map on the same style as that of the original Kidnapped done instead

Yours &c
(Signed) Sidney Colvin

March 2 / 94

BRITISH MUSEUM,

London: W.C.

My dear Baxter,

I had a letter from Louis on Wednesday, but not a word about
anything in the world except his d-d blacks and their politics.

I wonder whether you have anything more interesting. Hamer
came here yesterday, to much exercised about not being given a
chance or refusal of Ebb-Tide. I daresay you will have heard
from him on the point. Is it with McClure that your arrange-
ments for that work are making? - I suppose there will be no
reason to print before L's corrections (of which some are ex-
tremely necessary) have been received.

How are you getting on about the prospectus for the edition?
My opinion still is that we can hardly ask the price required
for each volume without some form of embellishment thrown in;
but that a good decorative frontispiece to each volume would
be sufficient

March 8/94

BRITISH MUSEUM,

LONDON: W.C.

My dear Baxter,

The thing of which you send me type-copy (herewith returned) is the same as I had in proof some two months ago from Jerome, and revised for him: and the same about which I wrote to you, and also to Louis, with so much dismay that he should thus cheapen and expose himself.

Taken together with the Ebb-Tide, such a piece of ill judgment cannot fail to do him real harm. But how can we possibly prevent it? No doubt the idea is Pinkerton's, and probably he dreams that he has done himself and Louis both a mighty fine turn in getting him to show himself up that way. No doubt he has paid handsomely for this thing, and probably has secured the promise of a similar piece about the origins of the Master (which perhaps our united expostulations may induce L. to keep back.) -

But for this present thing, cheaply printed and revised, is it possible you can do anything? I am myself quite disheartened about it.-

Enclosed please also find the Edinburgh edition prospectus marked: and here follow a few comments of mine.

The corrections made in pen I suggest for the sake of style and clearness.

The queries asked in blue & red chalk are as follows:

(a) Does this mean that no publisher's name would appear on the title-page? That is impossible, is it not? we must have some one, whether one of the existing publishers or not, to undertake the responsible publication & distribution, and would he not require some share in the profits, even if the production were at L's expense.-

(b). Is not this fixing the figures too high? The London booksellers to whom I have mentioned the matter think it would be quite impossible to ask more than 10½, or at most 12½, a volume: especially if there were no embellishments. This last point is one on which I incline to differ from you: I think an emblematic and suggestive frontispiece to each volume, by a really good hand, would be a gain, and enable us to ask the higher price: but of course it would also increase the cost. I would suggest leaving out the sentence about embellishment (the maps I think we must have), so that the point may stand over for final settlement: and changing the figures

(Sidney Colvin - March 8/94 -2)

to "8" or 9" nett return per vol., and "48000 or 49000" total for division. -

Don't you think that would be more fairly within the mark?

And this brings me to a conversation I had with John Lane, one of the enterprising sort of young publishers (you know, Elkin Matthews, Lane, &c). Well, he says he does not think our scheme will answer. Says it is too luxurious and expensive a thing to appeal except to bibliophiles: and that what bibliophiles like and will pay for are the old first editions, no matter how unattractive the form. - I only tell you this for what it is worth. - I suppose it is impossible to know whether the thing would go or not until we see the prospectuses are received. If the 1000 copies are not all, or nearly all, subscribed, then I suppose we must simply not go on. In this event, do you think it would do any harm to L's reputation with the trade?-

Please answer the enclosed from Hamer: in which he asks whether they may use the present plates of 'Catriona' for the new 2 vol. illustrated edition of D.B., and print Kidnapped uniformly with it: instead of printing both volumes afresh in the style previously submitted to and sanctioned by me.-

I don't think it much matters: 'Catriona' is a respectable looking volume enough: only I think they must make new plates from the moulds.

Yours ever

Sidney Colvin

P.S. Oh, Lane added that all collected eds. even if subscribed at first, had gone down in price afterwards

April 19/94

BRITISH MUSEUM,

London: W.C.

My dear Baxter,

I had your wire, & have stopped the notice in the Athenaeum for
the present; should like however to send it them when the thing
is ripe.

I have been going pretty carefully into the question of class-
ification, and send you enclosed an amended draft of groups &
volumes. - You will see that I only make 19 for the present. Poss-
ibly however section III might be extended to a 4th vol: I don't
know how much the Pentland rising and other Juvenilia would come
to. -

Of course the constitution of sec 1, vol II, must depend on
whether L. is willing to reprint the first part of the Amateur
Emigrant: as to which his answer should come next week (unless
he is too much taken up with native wars & policies).

I want to get all the collaborations into Section 3, and there-
fore propose to include the Wrecker among the group rather than
among Romances: but this must depend on L's consent. Possibly
again, the things intended to go together in vol. III of this section
may turn out long enough to make two vols, the Wrong Box standing as
a short vol. by itself.

The rest call, I think, for no comment.

O, there is one thing I had forgotten to mention. With reference
to Cassell's forthcoming picture ed. of Catriona: by last mail L.
wrote me that he agreed in disliking the perspective views that had
been prepared, and would prefer a map on the ordinary projection: i.e.

(Sidney Colvin to Charles Baxter - April 19, 1894 - 2)

a plain folding map of the coast from the Water of Almond to
the Bass, with the immediate neighbourhood of Edinburgh on a
larger scale in one corner: the particular places being carefully
marked which are indicated in his corrected copy of the bird's
eye view. -

Could you see about having this done in Edinburgh? - or shall
we attend to it in London? The same map might serve for the
Edinburgh edition. -

Yours ever

S.C.

May 3/94

BRITISH MUSEUM,

London: W.C.

My dear Baxter,

(1) I think that no bird's-eye projection is required, and that it would be much better than the Catrina map should be uniform in general appearance with Kidnapped. That is to say, that it should consist of a plain sketch map of the coast included in no. I herewith returned, with a separate map of Edinburgh and the immediate adjacencies, on a larger scale, in a circle either in the right or left corner. Of course all modern details to be left out, and the coast & country places to be shown and named as nearly as possible as they were in 1751: with special emphasis of the particular places indicated in the bird's eye as revised by Louis. It might be made to fold in the book either in 3 or 4* -

[note in margin: - *I should think in 3 would be large enough]

I hope this is clear? -

(2) I am delighted to hear that all goes so well. And I anticipated a difficulty about getting the two sets of Arabian Nights into one vol. - And yet this is on all accounts eminently desirable to do. Would it not be possible, in this one case, to let the vol. exceed the cost, & take it out by making another fall below it? Any other adjustments, except this, would be easy. -

Glad Louis has come round; but his view as expressed to me was not what you report him as now holding. -

(3) I await pattern to set Anning Bell on a specimen. - If etchings had been in question, - certainly no one better than Hole, or perhaps so good: but etched illustrations were not what I had in my mind: my proposal is for a decorative and suggestive design to be drawn in black & white, & reproduced either by woodcut or process. We'll see how you and Flaikie like the specimen we produce. -

(4) One question arises which we have not touched: - as to future books. Ought you not to reserve with the publishers the right to reprint for the Edinburgh edition after the lapse of a certain stated period and on certain specified terms? - The subscribers would naturally expect the opportunity of securing future as well as past vols. -

-----

Yes, the Mat. Gall. appointment has been a mistake, I honestly believe: and so apparently does everybody, except the small clique by whom it was wire-pulled. - Unluckily this clique includes a majority of the Trustees (who are only five altogether), and Rosebery did not see his way to appoint against their views. What makes it the rougher on me is that the wire-puller in chief against me has been my oldest, and (after R. L. S.) almost my nearest friend. -

I have written in great haste and amid continual interruptions. -

(5) Only one thing more: - I think should be glad to give the Athenaeum (for private reasons) - the primers next week both of the

(?)

May 7, 1894

BRITISH MUSEUM,

London: W.C.

My dear Baxter,

Thanks for your telegram. First time for three years L. hasn't written to me: I wonder whether he was engrossed with wars and revolutions, or whether he was disgusted at my lecturing - I'm afraid he has had a good deal of it. By the way, I meant what I wrote to you about the insurance to be copied with the rest, in that letter which I asked you to send extracts from in lieu of one direct from me (in January I think it was): can you kindly tell me whether this was done? as if not, he may well think me negligent in answering what he wrote on the point. -

Please see and reply to enclosed from Hamer: what is wanted is a map of the ordinary kind, not bird's eye: to fold of the shape of the enclosed, I should say, and to give the coast from Queensferry to the Bass, with all the special places marked as in the corrected bird's eye view (enclosed), and a special scale map of the immediate neighbourhood of Edinburgh let in. - You will doubtless answer Hamer's (somewhat ill-mannered) query. - As to the question of the American copyright of Catriona, it seems clear that you must deal with Scribner's for it if McClure is to have the selling of the special ed.. in that country. -

I await specimen for size of page before communicating farther with the putative Scotsman R A Bell.

Rejected candidate for the map..

P.S.

I seem to have mislaid Hamer's letter: it was to say the bird's eye view had cost them £20, and to ask (rather huffily) were they expected to pay for the new map too?

S C

May 10/94

BRITISH MUSEUM,

London: W.C.

My dear Baxter,

I'm glad Douglas is off, but shouldn't expect either Longmans
or Cassells to like Chatto's name to appear on the title-page,
and am rather sorry it has been proposed. - Why not "printed
for the author by Constable & Co Edinburgh?"

All right about the editorial work: I will await L's own
views, & then communicate direct with Blaikie (by the way, what
are his initials?). -

As soon as I get a dummy, I will send it to Anning Bell for
his guidance. -

I hope your eyes are better by this time.

Oh - as to the map - I've no doubt it would cost a good deal
more for putting on to stone than for drawing - you see there
are four or five stones employed. - And as the change is of our
own making, it would perhaps seem not unreasonable to pay for
it (except that I greatly grudge Cassell's their bargain for the
book at 15 p/c). -

I suppose you will open no negotiations about the book form
of St Ives, until we see what happens as to serial publication. -

July 6/94

British Museum.

My dear Baxter,

I received yesterday, with a little surprise, a somewhat peremptory and (I think) unnecessary letter from a Mr. Something, as secretary of the Edinburgh edition. -

You will please remember that I have other matters to attend to besides this: though in this also I am not conscious of failing to act with due zeal and dispatch. -

I have been in correspondence with Blaikie about the distribution and measuring up of matter for certain volumes, including that which we agreed should be issued first. - His answer is necessary before I can proceed farther. Supposing it to reach me, which it will doubtless do, tomorrow or Monday, I shall be able to let him have, by Wednesday morning in Edinburgh at latest, full directions for the contents of at least six volumes, with instructions to proceed with the printing, and indications of the order in which I think they should be issued.

With reference to the latest photographs - there is one which I think of particular importance, and which I have not got myself. Mr. Lysaght brought it back lately from Samoa. I have written him (he lives near Bristol) to send it you for Hole's use. -

As to the actual date of issue of the first vol. (viz. Miscellanies I, as agreed by you on my suggestion) - I think it can be hardly be [sic] before the 1st Novr.: thus, - Louis, as you justly say, cannot expect to see and return proofs: but there are one or two points in this 1st vol. which I could not let be printed off until I have submitted them to him and had his answer. I write by mail of the 14th inst: his answer will arrive about Septr 16: the book will in the meantime have been printed and the proofs be in my hands (of course in sheet - the few points in question will not involve change of paging): I shall be here, and will let Blaikie have the revise for press at once (say Septr 18). - That will leave six weeks for working off, binding, &c, and should enable us to issue easily by Nov 1; which will be no breach of faith with public or publishers: and I see no reason why the volumes should not follow afterwards at intervals of about a month, or a month exactly if thought desirable. -

With reference to the general dedication: - I shall in writing on the 14th try to persuade L. to use for the Edition as a whole only the plain line or two of prose "To My Wife, &c". It is simple, & monumental, & should satisfy her: the verses are not very good, and not historically true, as concerns the earlier works: I shall try and get him to reserve them as a special & separate dedication for the Ld Justice Clerk when it appears. - I think this will satisfy her, if put with tact: and I feel

[marginal note] *You see it gives her 2 dedications instead of 1

Colvin to Baxter - July 6/94 - 2)

sure you will agree with me that the Ed. ed. will be the gainer. Mean-
time by all means send him out proofs - or no, I am not sure that I
would, unless he has expressly asked for them: he might fall in love
again with the indifferent verses, if he saw them in Constable's type. -
This, you will see, is another reason for postponing the printing-off
of vol I until we have an answer to my letter of July 14. -

About the revises of Ebb-Tide (from Today). My strong impression
was, & is, that after using them from the American edition I handed
them to McClure. - Having made search (all my R. L. S. papers
being together and in order) I could not find them: my housekeeper
confirms my recollection that they were sent away. I at once informed
Heinemann of this: McClure says he has not got them: my advice therefore
was that Heinemann should print (since he wishes to do so promptly) from
the pages of McClure's Mag., cabling at the same time for a copy of the
American edition (from Stone & Kimber, Cambridge, Mass.) to revise by.
That edition had been carefully revised by me from L's own revision of
the cuttings from Today. -
Hendall

There need thus be no delay. - I am confident I did hand the last-
named revises to McClure, - when he was intending to publish for England. -

That, I think, is all. -

Ever yours sincerely

Sidney Colvin

P.T.O.

P.S. Oh, about the new poems. I think your scale of prices should do:
and will send you a dozen or so of the things very soon. - But we must
beware of screwing up prices too high all round: I expect that in the
case of Astor you have done so, have you not? -

S. C.