19th Century American writers : letters, manuscripts, & correspondence

[envelope]

Mr. William Scott, Care of Launders & Otley, New-York.

Richmond, Dec. 15, 1836.

My Dear Friend,

Money is very scarce here - Times very hard - and, what is still worse I have a very sick wife - and "to mend the matter" my Printing is nearly suspended, in consequence of as ruinous as a foolish strike of the Journeymen Printers, - a strike that will in all probability prevent my issuing the 1st No. of my 3d [column?], earlier than the 1st February.

Your article on copy-right is received, and shall grace my next No. - I regret, that a previous arrangement will prevent its taking the lead.

I should like to see the attacks to which you allude, as well as Bennett's reply. I am very certain I never gave Mr. Price any cause to be angry with me, nor yet with my paper. When I had the pleasure of paying my respects to him in October last he received and treated me as a gentleman, and I must say that I was quite pleased with his [deportment?]. It is possible I may have said something in his presence, which he has misconstrued. Be his motives what they may, I care not for them. Nothing shall divert me from my purpose, - and that is to do justice to all my [?] so far as I know how to mete it out.

What can he mean by my purchasing "laudatory phraseology" from you, or your pen. I would despise myself, as much as I possibly could you, if such were the facts. I never paid you a cent for a [?] - nor never will. But I will pay you still for any thing you may pen for my [?] - or for any business I may appoint you to do for me in New York.

Talking of business, puts me in mind of the fact that you have some commissions on hand now, which I should like you to go about for me forthwith, - taking out such commissions as you may choose to take, for your trouble. I'm desperately in want of funds just now.

Will you also call on [Messrs?] [Landers?] & Otley and inquire of them whether my packages were received, - and if so whether they have disposed of them according to their [promise?].

Did you hand to [Miss?] [Medina?] her parcel? What did she say.

Will you call on Mr. [Richard?] [Adars?] [Lachs?], and tell him thatI have not heard from him as yet, - and that this is the16th.

Ask Mr. [Landers?] if he will make the purchase I [proposed?].

Be pleased to remember me affectionately to your wife, - and believe me to be

Your Friend,

T. W. White

Mr. W. Scott.

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]

Richmond, March 18, 1837.

Mr. William Scott.

My Dear Sir,

This will be handed to you by Mr. [Lanocay?], a most respectable [B?] of our City.

Do me the favor, if you please, to hand to him Miss Medina's manuscript, which you you told me she had placed in your possession.

Let me know also whether the New York [A?] took and paid you for the 1st Volume of the Messenger - which I purchased and paid $5 for in compliance with the earnest request of their Secretary.

Let me know also whether you handed to Mr. Flynn the 17 copies of the 2d Volume, and if you did, whether he paid you.

In case both declined taking these copies, please deliver them [?] to Mr. [Lanocay?] who will bring them back to me - together with the 10 numbers which Mr. T. B. [Wilmon?] so politely [refused?] to take after [?] for the same to me in person.

You have not as yet told me whether you received by mail the 1st Volume of the Messenger - which I purchased for Mr. N. O. Cort - and sent to your ad-

dress.

If you have made any [additions?] over and above the $5 from Mr. Cort (which I wish you to retain), please trust the same to the care of my friend Mr. [Lanocay?].

It will at all times afford me the greatest pleasure to hear from you.

I hope you are getting along comfortably - and I trust that you will continue to do so.

Present me most kindly and affectionately to your good wife - and believe me to be

Your Friend

Thomas W. White.

[envelope]

Mr. William Scott, Proprietor of the Weekly Messenger, New York

Per Mr. Lanocay.

Amesbury [date ?] Dear Fields: I am most agree ably surprised at thy success in transfering my verses into a fifty dollar check which has just come to hand. It beats altogether the tricks of the old [ ?]. I am [rejoiced?] to hear of the success of the

Pat here just called on me with the agreeable intelligence that our courtly old

friend has so far recovered as to be able return to his home. If now we can raise two hundred dollars for him it will enable him to hold the old house where his ancestors for many generations have lived, and set the old man on his legs again, & warm & gladden his heart. His bodily & mental health [ seems?] now very nearly restored, & he fully appreciates every kindness. Tell Hackell that he has done so well, already I hope he will be able to raise his figure to $100. I feel sure he would be the very man for the object. [ ? ]

Amesbury 2nd 4th mo 18[?]

Dear friend

In answer to thine, I can only say that the schoolmaster referred to is no longer living. The young woman was Harriet Livermore, a daughter of Judge Livermore of New Hampshire - a