Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon , livre ebook

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219 pages

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"I have no wife nor children, good or bad, to provide for. A mere spectator of other men's fortunes and adventures, and how they play their parts; which, methinks, are diversely presented unto me, as from a common theatre or scene."-BURTON

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Publié par	Pub One Info
Date de parution	27 septembre 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9782819921141
Langue	English

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"I have no wife nor children, good or bad, to provide for. Amere spectator of other men's fortunes and adventures, and how theyplay their parts; which, methinks, are diversely presented unto me,as from a common theatre or scene."—BURTON.
PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION.
THE following papers, with two exceptions, were written inEngland, and formed but part of an intended series for which I hadmade notes and memorandums. Before I could mature a plan, however,circumstances compelled me to send them piecemeal to the UnitedStates, where they were published from time to time in portions ornumbers. It was not my intention to publish them in England, beingconscious that much of their contents could be interesting only toAmerican readers, and, in truth, being deterred by the severitywith which American productions had been treated by the Britishpress.
By the time the contents of the first volume had appeared inthis occasional manner, they began to find their way across theAtlantic, and to be inserted, with many kind encomiums, in theLondon Literary Gazette. It was said, also, that a Londonbookseller intended to publish them in a collective form. Idetermined, therefore, to bring them forward myself, that theymight at least have the benefit of my superintendence and revision.I accordingly took the printed numbers which I had received fromthe United States, to Mr. John Murray, the eminent publisher,from whom I had already received friendly attentions, and left themwith him for examination, informing him that should he be inclinedto bring them before the public, I had materials enough on hand fora second volume. Several days having elapsed without anycommunication from Mr. Murray, I addressed a note to him, inwhich I construed his silence into a tacit rejection of my work,and begged that the numbers I had left with him might be returnedto me. The following was his reply:
MY DEAR SIR: I entreat you to believe that I feel truly obligedby your kind intentions towards me, and that I entertain the mostunfeigned respect for your most tasteful talents. My house iscompletely filled with workpeople at this time, and I have only anoffice to transact business in; and yesterday I was whollyoccupied, or I should have done myself the pleasure of seeingyou.
If it would not suit me to engage in the publication of yourpresent work, it is only because I do not see that scope in thenature of it which would enable me to make those satisfactoryaccounts between us, without which I really feel no satisfaction inengaging—but I will do all I can to promote their circulation, andshall be most ready to attend to any future plan of yours.
With much regard, I remain, dear sir, Your faithful servant,
JOHNMURRAY.
This was disheartening, and might have deterred me from anyfurther prosecution of the matter, had the question ofrepublication in Great Britain rested entirely with me; but Iapprehended the appearance of a spurious edition. I now thought ofMr. Archibald Constable as publisher, having been treated byhim with much hospitality during a visit to Edinburgh; but first Idetermined to submit my work to Sir–Walter (then Mr.) Scott, beingencouraged to do so by the cordial reception I had experienced fromhim at Abbotsford a few years previously, and by the favorableopinion he had expressed to others of my earlier writings. Iaccordingly sent him the printed numbers of the Sketch–Book in aparcel by coach, and at the same time wrote to him, hinting thatsince I had had the pleasure of partaking of his hospitality, areverse had taken place in my affairs which made the successfulexercise of my pen all–important to me; I begged him, therefore, tolook over the literary articles I had forwarded to him, and, if hethought they would bear European republication, to ascertainwhether Mr. Constable would be inclined to be thepublisher.
The parcel containing my work went by coach to Scott's addressin Edinburgh; the letter went by mail to his residence in thecountry. By the very first post I received a reply, before he hadseen my work.
"I was down at Kelso," said he, "when your letter reachedAbbotsford. I am now on my way to town, and will converse withConstable, and do all in my power to forward your views—I assureyou nothing will give me more pleasure."
The hint, however, about a reverse of fortune had struck thequick apprehension of Scott, and, with that practical and efficientgood–will which belonged to his nature, he had already devised away of aiding me. A weekly periodical, he went on to inform me, wasabout to be set up in Edinburgh, supported by the most respectabletalents, and amply furnished with all the necessary information.The appointment of the editor, for which ample funds were provided,would be five hundred pounds sterling a year, with the reasonableprospect of further advantages. This situation, being apparently athis disposal, he frankly offered to me. The work, however, heintimated, was to have somewhat of a political bearing, and heexpressed an apprehension that the tone it was desired to adoptmight not suit me. "Yet I risk the question," added he, "because Iknow no man so well qualified for this important task, and perhapsbecause it will necessarily bring you to Edinburgh. If my proposaldoes not suit, you need only keep the matter secret and there is noharm done. `And for my love I pray you wrong me not.' If on thecontrary you think it could be made to suit you, let me know assoon as possible, addressing Castle Street, Edinburgh."
In a postscript, written from Edinburgh, he adds, "I am justcome here, and have glanced over the Sketch–Book. It is positivelybeautiful, and increases my desire to crimp you, if it be possible.Some difficulties there always are in managing such a matter,especially at the outset; but we will obviate them as much as wepossibly can."
The following is from an imperfect draught of my reply, whichunderwent some modifications in the copy sent:
"I cannot express how much I am gratified by your letter. I hadbegun to feel as if I had taken an unwarrantable liberty; but,somehow or other, there is a genial sunshine about you that warmsevery creeping thing into heart and confidence. Your literaryproposal both surprises and flatters me, as it evinces a muchhigher opinion of my talents than I have myself."
I then went on to explain that I found myself peculiarlyunfitted for the situation offered to me, not merely by mypolitical opinions, but by the very constitution and habits of mymind. "My whole course of life," I observed, "has been desultory,and I am unfitted for any periodically recurring task, or anystipulated labor of body or mind. I have no command of my talents,such as they are, and have to watch the varyings of my mind as Iwould those of a weathercock. Practice and training may bring memore into rule; but at present I am as useless for regular serviceas one of my own country Indians or a Don Cossack."
"I must, therefore, keep on pretty much as I have begun; writingwhen I can, not when I would. I shall occasionally shift myresidence and write whatever is suggested by objects before me, orwhatever rises in my imagination; and hope to write better and morecopiously by and by."
I am playing the egotist, but I know no better way of answeringyour proposal than by showing what a very good–for–nothing kind ofbeing I am. Should Mr. Constable feel inclined to make abargain for the wares I have on hand, he will encourage me tofurther enterprise; and it will be something like trading with agypsy for the fruits of his prowlings, who may at one time havenothing but a wooden bowl to offer, and at another time a silvertankard.""
In reply, Scott expressed regret, but not surprise, at mydeclining what might have proved a troublesome duty. He thenrecurred to the original subject of our correspondence; enteredinto a detail of the various terms upon which arrangements weremade between authors and booksellers, that I might take my choice;expressing the most encouraging confidence of the success of mywork, and of previous works which I had produced in America. "I didno more," added he, "than open the trenches with Constable; but Iam sure if you will take the trouble to write to him, you will findhim disposed to treat your overtures with every degree ofattention. Or, if you think it of consequence in the first place tosee me, I shall be in London in the course of a month, and whatevermy experience can command is most heartily at your command. But Ican add little to what I have said above, except my earnestrecommendation to Constable to enter into the negotiation."
I cannot avoid subjoining in a note a succeeding paragraph ofScott's letter, which, though it does not relate to the mainsubject of our correspondence, was too characteristic to beemitted. Some time previously I had sent Miss Sophia Scott smallduodecimo American editions of her father's poems published inEdinburgh in quarto volumes; showing the "nigromancy" of theAmerican press, by which a quart of wine is conjured into a pintbottle. Scott observes: "In my hurry, I have not thanked you inSophia's name for the kind attention which furnished her with theAmerican volumes. I am not quite sure I can add my own, since youhave made her acquainted with much more of papa's folly than shewould ever otherwise have learned; for I had taken special carethey should never see any of those things during their earlieryears. I think I have told you that Walter is sweeping thefirmament with a feather like a maypole and indenting the pavementwith a sword like a scythe—in other words, he has become awhiskered hussar in the 18th Dragoons."
Before the receipt of this most obliging letter, however, I haddetermined to look to no leading bookseller for a launch, but tothrow my work before the public at my own risk, and let it sink orswim according to its merits. I wrote to that effect to Scott, andsoon received a reply:
"I observe with pleasure that you are going to come forth inBritain.