Chapter IX: Letter IX: To MARY BORROW

58 JERMYN ST,
ST. JAMES',
_Wednesday_,
[1848]

DEAR CARRETA,

I was glad to receive your letter, I had expected one on Tuesday. I am upon the whole very comfortable, and people are kind. I passed last Sunday at Clapham with Mrs. Browne, I was glad to go there for it was a gloomy day. They are now glad enough to ask me.

I suppose I must stay in London through next week. I have been invited to two grand parties, and it is as well to have something for one's money. I called at the Bible Society--all remarkably civil, Joseph especially so. I think I shall be able to manage with my own Dictionary. There is now a great demand for Morrison.

Yesterday I again dined at the Murray's, there was a family party--very pleasant. To-morrow I dine with an old schoolfellow. Murray is talking of printing a new edition {25} to sell for 5 shillings. Those rascals the Americans have it seems reprinted it, and are selling it for _eighteen_ pence. Murray says he shall print ten thousand copies; it is chiefly intended for the Colonies. He says the rich people and the libraries have already got it, and he is quite right, for nearly three thousand copies have been sold at 27_s._! There is no longer the high profit to be made on books there formerly was, as the rascals abroad pirate the good ones, and in the present state of copyright there is no help: we can, however, keep the American editions out of the Colonies, which is something.

I have nothing more to say, save to commend you not to go on the water without _I_; perhaps you would be overset; and do not go to the bridge again, 'till I come. Take care of Habismilk and Craffs. Kiss the little mare, and old Hen.

[GEORGE BORROW.]