ENPages
p.
(Private) Richmond, Jan. 23, '37.
My Dear Friend,
It has been entirely out of my power to answer your kind favor of the 17th 'till to-day.
Betwixt my office and my domicile, my whole time has been consumed — i.e. ever since my return to Richmond. At last, my poor wife seems to be better — and we begin to think we may yet conquer the disease, which is pronounced by the physicians cancer in her womb. She has had already a 5 months siege of it. My hands are once more at work but their "strike" has been a serious drawback as well as a great injury to me in a pecuniary point of view — one that will cost me months of hard labor to recover from.
By tomorrow night's mail I will send you rough sheets of my Jan. No. in which you will find your article on the "Rights of Authors," though not in the part of the Messenger I promised you it should be placed. This was, however, intended I assure you, in no ways as a mark of disrespect. But its getting where it now stands, was unavoidable, in consequence of arrangements which had been previously made by others — as well by the fact of my attention being called from my office when it was made up. This, I hope, will be an ample apology on my part. You will nevertheless find yourself in both good and enlightened company. You came
p.
betwixt Mrs Ellett and Judge Hopkinson, — and I am sure you could not have selected better society any where.
Previous to writing you I had submitted your manuscript to Mr. Poe, who handed it back to me as being suitable for the Messenger. After I had it put in type, I sent a corrected proof of it to him. He returned it, as you will see, making several corrections, — and arranged other things, striking out your first paragraph, or exerdium. He also struck out your two concluding paragraphs — but I thought them worth preserving — and therefore took upon myself the "responsibility" of retaining them. I have no doubt whatever, that Mr. Poe done what he has done for the best. I hope, moreover that you will think so also. Be that as it may, I assure you there was not the slightest intention on my part (nor do I believe there was on that of Mr. Poe's) to mar your production. I hope this rapid explanation will be satisfactory to my friend.
Mr. Poe retired from the editors life of my work on the 3d inst. I am once more at the head of affairs. Nevertheless I have private friends to whom I submit all articles — and I have consented to abide by their judgment.
So soon as I can spare the time, I will write to Mr Wilborn. In the meantime, if you can get me a patron do so and I will send you on the No' 11 & 12 — to make up the set. I have not a copy of No 1 or 2 on hand —
p.
Please say to Mr. Coit (a gentleman) that so soon as I can purchase a copy of Vol 1, I will do so, and send it to him.
[illegible] new play is handled without gloves, in this No.____ The Review is from the pen of one of the first men in Virginia ---an accomplished scholar and able jurist.
Let me beg you to read my article through in the [panderano?] No. I shall send you.----a No. of 96 pages, in which there are 10 or 12 pages of [illegible] making the No. equal to 104 pages of [illegible] -- in which I really believe there is more reading than in any two volumes of one of our ordinary Novels, which sells at $2.00.
Do read Pauldings "["visit?]" with great care. It is fully equal to any thing that he has ever [written?]. The Review of the "Partisan Leader" you ought to read with great care. Read the Library [Man?], and the 1st chap. of his Biography. It is indeed a master [production?] and first -rate [illegible]. "The Study of the Law" is by a man of splendid abilities ----so is "Our [Portion?]" ---the Poetry in fact is all first rate.
All I ask, or expect, of you is to do my work justice --regardless of consequences.
So soon as you can make collections, send me [illegible] a remittance -- retaining, if you please, $5 for the trouble you have been at.
I am in great [illegible[ distress.
Your [illegible] [illegible], T. W. White
[written sideways in left margin] Come out next Wednesday week at all [illegible] and send me on one [illegible] [illegible] of the [illegible]
