satisfactory manner,—­by the ready method of paying me now ten percent on the selling-price of all the copies of Cromwell sent into the market by them; and had (as I knew already) covenanted with you to do so, in a clear, bona-fide, and to you satisfactory manner, in regard to that First Edition:  in consequence of which you had made a bargain with them of like tenor in regard to the Second.  To all which I could only answer, that such conduct was that of men of honor, and would, in all manner of respects, be satisfactory to me.  Wherefore the new Sheets of Cromwell should now go by his Package direct to New York, and the other little Parcel for you he could send to Munroe:—­that as one consequence?  “Yes, surely,” intimated he; but there were other consequences, of more moment, behind that.

Namely, that they wanted (the Wiley & Putnam house did) to publish certain other Books of mine, the List of which I do not now recollect; under similar conditions:  viz. that I was to certify, in a line or two prefixable to each Book, that I had read it over in preparation for their Printer, and did authorize them to print and sell it;—­in return for which Ten percent on the sale-price (and all manner of facilities, volunteered to convince even Clark of Boston, the Lynx-eyed Friend now busy for me looking through millstones, that all was straight, and said Ten percent actually paid on every copy sold); This was Putnam’s Offer, stated with all transparency, and in a way not to be misunderstood by either of us.

To which I answered that the terms seemed clear and square and every way good, and such as I could comply with heartily,—­so far as I was at liberty, but not farther.  Not farther:  for example, there was Hart of Philadelphia (I think the Wileys do not want the Miscellanies), there were Munroe, Little and Brown, &c.;—­ in short, there was R.W.  Emerson, who knew in all ways how far I was free and not free, and who would take care of my integrity and interest at once, and do what was just and prudent; and to him I would refer the whole question, and whatever he engaged for, that and no other than that I would do.  So that you see how it is, and what a coil you have again got into!  Mr. Putnam would have had some “Letter,” some “exchange of Letters,” to the effect above-stated:  but I answered, “It was better we did not write at all till the matter was clear and liquid with you, and then we could very swiftly write,—­and act.  I would apprise you how the matter stood, and expect your answer, and bid you covenant with Mr. Wiley what you found good, prompt I to fulfil whatever you undertook for me.”—­This is a true picture of the affair, the very truest I can write in haste; and so I leave it with you—­ Ach Gott!