1861-10-09_Letter-A_Alvord-to-Bro-Broughton

A Philadelphia Oct 9. 1861

N. Broughton, Esq

Dear Bro,

Please send to the Presbyterian Publication Committee — Charles S. Luther ^Depository^ 1334 Chesnut St. 40 copies Memo. Vol. 1.00 - 40.00 10 [illegible] —1.50—15.00 1/3 off $55.00

Also samples of all your best things including the army books—with catalogues of all you publish—placards &c.

Mr Luther ( I saw [illegible] at [illegible) will take hold of our books strongly especially the Memorial. The ^[dist.]^ Sec. of the Am. Board is in the same building & will aid all he can. I think they will have the city canvassed by some individual. Let the [illegible] of samples be, not too many, but choice—I have proposed to furnish our books in quantities to this ^Presbyterian^ Board with their imprint — & as they are short of works of their own, hope to be able to supply them largely. At present however, they ^will^ see what they can do in selling our editions. Baptist Board[s] are well supplied & we are in good repulation with them. Business in general here is dull—^Both^ Martion & English &c. think well of us, but have all they need at present, also Mrs. Hamilton. All want you to send samples of new books. At S.S. Union left some samples of soldiers books to be

shown their committee by Mr. Packard. Also their Depositary C. Godfrey wants you to send samples of all your childrens books — ie S.S books to him — thinks he can do something with them. Will try to interest their committee in making business connections with us. Let choice samples come. Now is the time to hook on to these publication societies. They want new works to make a noise with, but have not means to get up things of their own. Please them if you can. They all evidently see that we are in the drift of the times — & competent to produce what they must have. Their active men in the depositories see this more quickly than their committees. They also sympathize with us more intimately — & assure me that they can sell from their counties what some in their committees, would not allow to be published & so desire to take the above steps in getting samples &c that ^hoping it^ may lead to ^permanent^ business connections.

Mrs. Hamilton you have strong hold of, & she is a host — said to be the most accomplished bookseller in Phil^a. J. W. Bradley will pay the $26 for [illegible], but his bookkeeper was out, & could not [illegible] to the [illegible]. Let the 50 Memos come at once—as I hope if Bro. Luther gets hold of this city canvass he will want several hundreds. All the others will do something with it from their shelves—Bro. Bruick is to do the same (ie canvass) in N. Y.— Have been striving up the Young Mens Christn Assoc. here.

Yours truly J. W. Alvord

P.S. I go on slowly as you see, but must get this distribution of army matter going thoroughly, & the young men here are much slower to move than they were in N. York. It takes a great deal of talking, but it will go. Bro. Collyer was a little too fast in his printed circular — seeming to interfere with the central com. here in Phil, but I have explained every thing, & the committee, an hour since, assured me that they would now go forward & call the convention in about two weeks. Cannot Mr. Sturgis be made the Boston delegate at least one of them — will you see to this? Leave for Baltimore 10^ocp.m. Let the samples from S.School come in Luther Box. Also samples for others if you have any to send which they have not yet had.

Yours J.W.A.

P.S. The chapter of advice ^(in the Soldiers' books)^ is severely criticised by army officers. Advises to what the soldiers cannot have — can you make a new version of it —Tell Br Warren this — Also will you ask him if he cannot make arrangements to get to Fitchburg for a coll. in all the churches — Now is the time for them

J. W. Alvord Oct 9. 1861.