LETTER III. To MR. J. J. STOCKDALE. Field Place, September 28th, 1810. SIR, I sent, before I had the pleasure of knowing you, the MS. of a poem to Messieurs Ballantyne & Co. Edinburgh; they have declined publishing it, with the inclosed letter.' I now offer it to you, and depend upon your honour as a gentleman for a fair price for the copyright. It will be sent to you from Edinburgh. The subject is "The Wandering Jew." As to its containing Atheistical principles, I assure you, I was wholly unaware of the fact hinted at. Your good sense will point out to you the impossibility of inculcating pernicious doctrines in a poem, which as you will see is so totally abstract from any circumstances which occur under the possible view of mankind. SIR, LETTER IV. To MR. J. J. STOCKDALE. University Coll., Oxford, Sunday, 11 November, 1810. I wish you to obtain for me a book which answers to the following description. It is an Hebrew essay, demonstrating that the Christian religion is false, and is mentioned in one of the numbers of the Christian Observer of last spring, by a clergyman, as an unanswerable, yet sophistical argument.'-If it is translated in Greek, Latin, or any of the European languages, I would thank you to send it to me. I am, Sir, your humble servant, PERCY B. SHELLEY. LETTER V. To MR. J. J. STOCKDALE. DEAR SIR, 2 University Coll., Nov. 14th, 1810. I am I return you the Romance by this day's coach. much obligated by the trouble you have taken to fit it for the press. I am, myself, by no means a good hand at correction, but I think I have obviated the principal objections which you allege. 1 Mr. Garnett "searched the Observer in vain for the notice referred to." 2 The Romance was of course St. Irvyne. Mr. Garnett points "not a out that obligated was vulgarism in Shelley's day, any more than ruinated.' Both may be found in good writers of the 18th century.' Ginotti, as you will see did not die by Wolfstein's hand, but by the influence of that natural magic which when the secret was imparted to the latter, destroyed him.-Mountfort being a character of inferior import, I did not think it necessary to state the catastrophe of him, as at best it could be but uninteresting.-Eloise and Fitzeustace, are married and happy I suppose, and Megalena dies by the same means as Wolfstein. I do not myself see any other explanation that is required.— As to the method of publishing it, I think as it is a thing which almost mechanically sells to circulating libraries, &c., I would wish it to be published on my own account. I am surprised that you have not received the Wandering Jew, and in consequence write to Mr. Ballantyne to mention it; you will doubtlessly therefore, receive it soon. Should you still perceive in the romance any error of flagrant incoherency, &c., it must be altered, but I should conceive it will (being wholly so abrupt) not require it. I am your sincere humble servant, PERCY B. SHELLEY. Shall you make this in one or two volumes ? Mr. Robinson, of Paternoster Row, published Zastrozzi. LETTER VI. To MR. J. J. STOCKDALE. MY DEAR SIR, University Coll., Monday, 19 November, 1810. What I mean as I did not think it possible that the romance would make but one small volume, it will at all events be larger than Zastrozzi. (6 Rosicrucian" is the elixir of eternal life which Ginotti had obtained, Mr. Godwin's romance of St. Leon turns upon that superstition; I enveloped it in mystery for the greater excitement of interest, and on a re-examination, you will perceive that Mountfort physically did kill Ginotti, which must appear from the latter's paleness. Will you have the goodness to send me Mr. Godwin's Political Justice? If When do you suppose " St. Irvyne" will be out? you have not yet got the Wandering Jew from Mr. B., I will send you a MS. copy which I possess.' Yours sincerely, 1 Mr. Garnett notes-"It appears from the next note that this copy P. B. SHELLEY. was sent, but it miscarried." LETTER VII. To MR. J. J. STOCKDALE. Oxford, December 2nd, 1810. DEAR SIR, Will you, if you have got two copies of the Wandering Jew send one of them to me, as I have thought of some corrections which I wish to make,-your opinion on it. will likewise much oblige me. When do you suppose that Southey's Curse of Kehama. will come out? I am curious to see it, and When does St. Irvyne come out? I shall be in London, the middle of this month, when I will do myself the pleasure of calling on you. I saw your advertisement of the Romance, and approve of it highly; it is likely to excite curiosity.—I would thank you to send copies directed as follows: Miss Marshall, Horsham, Sussex. T. Medwin, Esq., Horsham, Sussex. T. J. Hogg, Esq., Rev.-Dayrell's, Lynnington Dayrell, Buckingham, and six copies to myself. In case the 'Curse of Kehama' has yet appeared, I would thank you for that 1 Field Place. |