The Miscellanies is published in two volumes, a copy of which goes to you immediately.  Munroe tells me that two hundred and fifty copies of it are already sold.  Writing in a bookshop, my dear friend, I have no power to say aught than that I am heartily and always,

Yours,
     R. Waldo Emerson

XXVI.  Emerson to Carlyle

Concord, 6 August, 1838

My Dear Friend,—­The swift ships are slow when they carry our letters.  Your letter dated the 15th of June arrived here last Friday, the 3d of August.  That day I was in Boston, and I have only now got the information necessary to answer it.  You have probably already learned from my letter sent by the “Royal William” (enclosing a bill of exchange for L50), that our first two volumes of the Miscellanies are published.  I have sent you a copy.  The edition consists of one thousand copies.  Of these five hundred are bound, five hundred remain in sheets.  The title-pages, of course, are all printed alike; but the publishers assure me that new title-pages can be struck off at a trifling expense, with the imprint of Saunders and Ottley.  The cost of a copy in sheets or “folded” (if that means somewhat more?) is eighty-nine cents; and bound is $1.15.  The retail price is $2.50 a copy; and the author’s profit, $1; and the bookseller’s, 35 cents per copy; according to my understanding of the written contract.

Here I believe you have all the material facts.  I think there is no doubt that the book will sell very well here.  But if, for the reasons you suggest, you wish any part of it, you can have it as soon as ships can bring your will.

When you see your copy, you will perceive that we have printed half the matter.  I should presently begin to print the remainder, inclusive of the Article on Lockhart’s Scott, in two more volumes; but now I think I shall wait until I hear from you.  Of those books we will print a larger edition, say twelve hundred and fifty or fifteen hundred, if you want a part of it in London.  For I feel confident now that our public here is one thousand strong.  Write me therefore by the steam packet your wishes.

I am sure you will like our edition.  It has been most carefully corrected by two young gentlemen who successively volunteered their services, (the second when the first was called away,) and who, residing in Cambridge, where the book was printed, could easilier oversee it.  They are Henry S. McBean, an engineer, and Charles Stearns Wheeler, a Divinity student,—­working both for love of you.  To one other gentleman I have brought you in debt, —­Rev. Convers Francis* (brother of Mrs. Child), who supplied from his library all the numbers of the Foreign Review from which we printed the work.  We could not have done without his books, and he is a noble-hearted man, who rejoices in you.  I have sent to all three copies of the work as from you, and I shall be glad if you will remember to sanction this expressly in your next letter.