Correspondence

6059.  Frederic Chapman to RB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 318.

193. Piccadilly, London. W.

May. 19. 1868.

My dear Mr. Browning

Some time ago I wrote to Messrs Smith Elder to offer them your works and Stereotypes– They considered my Estimate of their value too high.

I wrote again on March 26 & stated that I was quite willing for them to appoint any person to value the Stock and Stereotype &c.

To this I have had no answer,—I have therefore to trouble you and to inform you that we have about 550 Dramatis Personæ on hand, and that I cannot hope to sell many of them in the face of your new Edition– [1] I beg to offer you them at a fair price– As yet the book is in our debt.

Yr very truly

Fred Chapman

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Manuscripts Division, New York Public Library.

1. Poetical Works (6 vols., 1868), published by Smith, Elder & Co. (see letter 5973, note 3). Volume six, containing “In a Balcony” and Dramatis Personæ, was issued on 1 August 1868.

___________________