“Reminiscences.”—This is just for your best leisure (and pleasure) to advise me on, but I very much need a good “paper talk” with you to start me on a reasonable plan. I quite believe that in a fortnight or sooner I may begin regularly.
But now—publisher! Messrs. A— B— wrote me that the book would be so sound it would be sure to command public approval and they would like to publish. Mr. Newman wrote he thought I had best go to the top of the tree, and suggested John Murray. I answered that in real truth the very idea of applying to such a leading man made me quite uneasy—and yesterday he replied that as he understood you were aiding me in the work, that my best course would be to ask you whether when the time comes you would act on my part with a publisher. I am sure he is right—I am as ignorant as a reasonable person can be of how to “approach” a publisher, but, if I am not asking too much, it would indeed be a relief to my mind if you think fit to give me this help.
If it is possible I certainly should much like to print with Messrs. West, Newman & Co. Is it possible to have a part of the book printed before beginning negotiations just to show what it is like?
February 4, 1901.
I feel sure you will be pleased to hear that this morning I sent Messrs. West, Newman & Co. all that I believe is needed for my present Annual Report, excepting for completion of Index; and I have really begun “Reminiscences.” Will not my best way be to take any subjects that I think I have enough material for, and work them up just as I think they might go to press? Thus you would see how you like the writing and suggest improvements, and there would be something, if you please, to show a publisher. Turning to your letter—I think that if at your very best leisure you would kindly let me have the parcel of MS. which you were good enough to take for safe custody it would help me now.
How dreary the past week has been with our national sorrow and all the anxieties. I hope we may be more cheerful now.
February 8, 1901.
Your beautifully secured parcel has arrived safely, and I have locked it up carefully in my safe, with a very legible inscription that the contents are the property of Prof. Wallace, University of Edinburgh. There is nothing like making sure, in case of as people say “anything happening”! I should like to think that this mass of documents which I have been accumulating should pass to your hands.
I hope the work for your lecture[[114]] on the twelfth prox. is getting on quite to your liking. It is always a great pleasure to me to hear your plans are prospering.
February 14, 1901.