SD1757. George William Curtis to Christopher Pearse Cranch

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 20, 370 (in part).

Cambridge

June 13 1854.

My darling X your letter of May 29th has just arrived just in time for me to answer. And, first of all, so far from not having written about Browning’s volume, I may be said to have done nothing else. I have written directly to Browning. Ticknor & Co of Boston offered for his—10% upon the retail price of each volume. Francis of N.Y. off. for Mrs B. I think £10 (!!!!) I originally offered to Ticknor, both, & he was willing to give £50, bonus and 10% upon the retail price. But Francis had published Mrs B.—and insisted that he should in any case publish the new volume, upon which Ticknor seceded from his offer.

However Fields, of T. & Co. is now in London, & will see Browning if he is there. I shall write to B. by this steamer, & will you say to him that I wrote immediately upon making the arrangement here. …

I sent my letter to Browning, care of Chapman & Hall, London. …

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Massachusetts Historical Society.

___________________