First Acquaintance ivith Herbert Spencer. 107 



happen to have been mistaken, would you not probably be 

 able without trouble to inform me who the author is? 



Respecting the plan of your publication 1 had no 

 opportunity to learn anything, as I had not time to read 

 the circular. But whatever you propose in the matter I 

 fully accept, and will most gladly do anything in my power 

 to forward the enterprise. I have published several ele- 

 mentary books by which I have been somewhat mixed up 

 with book men and the book business, and this circumstance 

 may afford me some opportunity to aid the object. I am 

 more or less connected with the lyceum system through- 

 out the country, and, dealing with scientific topics, I fall in 

 with the class of men w^ho would take most interest in"your 

 current thought. Lecturing, however, is now about closed 

 for the season. 



I got the impression that the push was first to be made 

 here, and that the project might be somewhat contingent 

 upon the result. How many subscribers will you need here 

 to justify the undertaking ? I wish you would forward me 

 a circular, or, if possible, several, with any accompanying 

 statement that may be desirable. If you should send sev- 

 eral, you might leave them at 16 Little Britain, which is 

 the London depot of the house I publish with (D. Appleton 

 & Co.). They will forward with goods. If I succeed in 

 shortly bringing out the volume I spoke of, it will furnish 

 additional means of advancing the object. 



I have to thank you most earnestly for the pleasure and 

 advantage I have derived from the yet too hasty and frag- 

 mentary perusal of your books ; and I am justified in doing 

 the same thing in behalf of quite a number of friends for 

 whom I have had the great gratification of importing sev- 

 eral of your volumes. And now I pray you excuse this 

 informal Yankee short cut to business. If it be your pleas- 

 ure to write me, please direct to the care of D. Appleton & 

 Co., New York city. 



Very respectfully, E. L. Youmans. 



