Carlyle
CLXI. Carlyle to Emerson
Chelsea, 2 December, 1856
Dear Emerson,--I am really grieved to have hurt the feelings of
Mr. Phillips;* a gentleman to whom I, on my side, had no
feelings but those of respect and good will! I pray you smooth
him down again, by all wise methods, into at least good-natured
indifference to me. He may depend upon it I could not mean to
irritate him; there lay no gain for me in that! Nor is there
anything of business left now between us. It is doubly and
trebly evident those Stereotype Plates are not to him worth their
prime cost here, still less, their prime cost plus any vestige of
definite motive for me to concern myself in them:--whereupon the
Project falls on its face, and vanishes forever, with apologies
all round. For as to that other method, that is a game I never
thought, and never should think of playing at! You may also tell
him this little Biographical fact, if you think it will any way
help. Some ten or more years ago, I made a similar Bargain with
a New York House (known to you, and now I believe extinct): "10"
or something "percent," of selling price on the Copies Printed,
was to be my return--not for four or five hundred pounds money
laid out, but for various things I did, which gratis would by no
means have been done; in fine, it was their own Offer, made and
accepted in due form; "10 percent on the copies printed.
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