New York June 21 1833.
My dear Sir
I have called on the only booksellers here who would be likely to undertake the publication of your work. The Carvills declined on account of the "times," observing that they had already on hand some manuscripts which they had paid for a year or two since, and which they had delayed publishing on account of the state of their own affairs and of the book market. They however treated the application very respectfully, and did not decline until they had heard all I had to say, and considered the matter. 1 On going to the Harpers I found that your friend Mr. Wood2 had Prevented me as we used to say in the old English dialect 3 which Dr. Webster threatens to reform when he mends the common version of the bible. 4 Mr. Wood appears to have said every thing that could have been said on the subject and to have left the brothers impressed with a high opinion of your talents, but they could not be persuaded that the book would be what they called a selling book, at least in such a degree as to induce them to offer any thing for it.
I am sorry to have such an account to give of the success of negociations, but I infer from your letter 5 that you have, an offer from some bookseller in your neighbourhood, which you may think it worth your while to accept. You do well in republishing your prose. It will be better received at present than formerly--your poetical reputation will cause it to be sought for and read, and the public can no longer be confined to the cold and artificial style of writing which was then held up as the standard.
Your friend Mr. Wood did not do me the favour to call on me to speak about your works but the Harpers told me that he referred them to Verplanck and myself.
You talked last summer of visiting New York. May I not hope to see you at Hoboken before the leaves fall? I can show you some beautiful walks and rides in the neighbourhood, with our noble bay and river almost always in sight, and the great city in the distance apparently as quiet as if no mischief was brewing there. I shall be absent during the month of July, but after that I shall probably remain here. --My regards to all my friends in Cambridge and particularly to your brother and sisters.
Yrs truly
W. C. BRYANT
MANUSCRIPT: NYPL-GR DOCKETED: W. C. Bryant / June 21-33 PUBLISHED (in part): Life, I, 294.
-374-
Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information:
Book title: The Letters of William Cullen Bryant.
Volume: 1.
Contributors: William Cullen Bryant II - Editor, Thomas G. Voss - Editor, William Cullen Bryant - Author.
Publisher: Fordham University Press.
Place of publication: New York.
Publication year: 1975.
Page number: 374.
This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.
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