By George E. Darinell. 83 



to collect them : it was this. For eotne ten or twelve years I have beeu 

 assiduously collecting materials for an account of Swindon (itself alone), and 

 having had peculiar opportunities I think I have at last succeeded in my 

 researches : and I am now thinking of early publication .... It was 

 absolutely necessary tliat in an account of Swindon the fullest particulars 

 should appear of the Goddard family which has been associated with it for 

 so many years, so many generations. After exliausting all other sources 

 . . . . I called upon you, and you received me with the greatest kindness 

 . . . . I have been engaged in weaving the materials I had collected into 

 a history of the Goddard family, & the MS. is at last completed. In pub- 

 lishing this little work I do not anticipate or desire any profit, but it is 

 natural to wish to escape absolute loss .... The contemplated cost 

 will not exceed £20, perliaps less— half of which I am willing to risk myself, 

 and a lady who is interested in the matter is ready to risk £5, leaving a 

 margin of £5. I think I am justified in believing that the sale will repay 

 the cost of production : but .... I am anxious the printer should be 

 guaranteed against loss .... May I ask as a special favour that the 

 subject of this communication may be kept a profound secret ? It is my 

 especial desire that not the slightest knowledge of my intention to publish 

 may escape, until the MS. is actually printed." — Letter to H. N. Goddard, 

 Esq., 2Uh November, 1872. 



(c) " I am much indebted for your kind offer of assistance in the cost of 

 publication. I have no doubt myself that it will ultimately repay the 

 expenses ; but it is very possible that it may not do so before the printer's 

 bill falls due. My great object, therefore, is to feel satisfied in my own 

 mind that I can meet his claim the moment it is made. Out of an estimate 

 of £20 I have now £15 guaranteed ; leaving £5. If I might go so far as 

 to suggest that you should assist by kindly guaranteeing half of this, or 

 £2 10*., the margin left would be a very small risk indeed." — Letter to 

 the same, 27th November, 1872. 



{d) "You were kind enough yesterday to enquire as to the sale of 

 " Goddard." I find this morning that I have only thirty copies left at 

 home, and there are three at Miss Woodham's, the bookseller, in Swindon. 

 I think this is a very good sale indeed for a work apparently of only local 

 interest. But I have been very much surprised at the widespread acquaintance 

 there appears to be with the name of Goddard. Copies have been sent for 

 from almost all the Midland and Southern Counties; in fact, four-fifths of 

 the copies sold have been sent long distances. An American gentleman . 

 ordered five copies .... Several gentlemen have started 

 the idea of a second edition, & a printer the other day offered to print it, 

 & wait till the sale repaid the outlay for his money .... I have 



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