May, Samuel J., letter, Syracuse, [N.Y.], April 27, 1855, to Mrs. Kate Pickard, Camillus, N.Y.
Transcription
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care
Mr L. D. Pickard
Camillus
N.Y
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Syracuse
Apr. 27. '55
Dear Friend.
I have almost made up my mind, that L.W. Hall & Co of this city will be the best persons to publish your life of Uncle Peter and Family. He has business connections with the largest publishing houses in Boston, New York and Philadelphia - and assures me he can throw the book into the market everywhere as favorably as if it were published in either of those cities. He has been the publisher of several large works - and is a man of tact and enterprise. The principal reason why I think it would be better to have the work published here, is that it would here be in some measure under your supervision - and might receive your last touches. We have too excellent engravers in Syracuse, who might prepare your illustrations under your directions.
Messrs Hall & Co will assume the risk of the whole publication and pay probably 15 cents on every copy sold, to Uncle Peter and yourself i.e. that's a piece
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subject to the arrangement you have made with each other.
If you conclude to let Messrs Hall & Co take the work - it will be well - so soon as you have done with Dr Furness' manuscripts, to let me send them to him that he may immediately put them in order for publication, and return them as soon as possible, that that part of the volume may be in the press, which you are completing your part. This will expedite the publication of the book, which ought to be issued so soon as it can be without hurrying you.
Then again, so soon as you have determined upon the illustrations, it would be well to have them in the hands of the engraver, that he may have time enough to do his work well.
My wife has been very unwell for more than a week with fever - She is getting better - still she is very weak and requires much attention. If therefore uncle Peter and his wife come to Syracuse any time within the ensuing fortnight or three weeks - it is my wish that they should sojourn with some other one of their friends. If my wife were
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well, it would be a great pleasure to me to have them stay at my house.
Yours truly
Samuel J. May.
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