Chapter 304

CHARLES LAMB TO EDWARD MOXON

[No date. Early 1833.]

No _writing_, and no _word_, ever passed between Taylor, or Hessey, and me, respecting copy right. This I can swear. They made a volume at their own will, and volunteerd me a third of profits, which came to £30, which came to _Bilk_, and never came back to me. Proctor has acted a friendly part--when did he otherwise? I am very sorry to hear Mrs. P---- _as I suppose_ is not so well. I meditated a rallying epistle to him on his Gemini--his two Sosias, accusing him of having acted a notable piece of duplicity. But if his partner in the double dealing suffers--it would be unseasonable. You cannot rememb'r me to him too kindly. Your chearful letter has relieved us from the dumps; all may be well. I rejoice at your letting your house so magnificently. Talfourd's letter may be directed to him "On the Western Circuit."* That is the way, send it. With Blackwood pray send Piozziana and a Literary Gazette if you have one. The Piozzi and that shall be immed'tly return'd, and I keep Mad. Darblay for you eventually, a longwinded reader at present having use of it.

The weather is so queer that I will not say I _expect_ you &c.--but am prepared for the pleasure of seeing you when you can come.

We had given you up (the post man being late) and Emma and I have 20 times this morning been to the door in the rain to spy for him coming.

Well, I know it is not all settled, but your letter is chearful and cheer-making.

We join in triple love to you.

ELIA & Co.

I am settled _in any case_ to take at Bookseller's price any copies I have more. Therefore oblige me by sending a copy of Elia to Coleridge and B. Barton, and enquire (at your leisure of course) how I can send one, with a letter, to Walter Savage Landor. These 3 put in your next bill on me. I am peremptory that it shall be so. These are all I can want.

*Is it the Western? he goes to Reading &c.

[John Taylor, representing the firm of Taylor & Hessey, seems to have set up a claim of copyright in those essays in the _Last Essays of Elia_ that were printed in the _London Magazine_. For Procter's part, see next letter.

_Piozziana; or, Recollections of the late Mrs. Piozzi_ (Johnson's Mrs. Thrale), was published in 1833. It was by the Rev. E. Mangin.

Mad. Darblay would be _The Memoirs of Dr. Burney_, 1832, by his daughter Madame d'Arblay (Admiral Burney's niece). The book was severely handled in the _Quarterly_ for April, 1833.

The following letter, which is undated, seems to refer to the difficulty mentioned above:--]