156 Edward Livingston Yoinnans, 



from impossible (I prevented him from publishing Social 

 Statics) — it would not only ruin the entire subscription 

 project, but, by mingling your name with the gang of ob- 

 scene, prurient, and scoffing authors whom he patronizes and 

 advertises, would make it very embarrassing for others. 



Perceiving, then, as I thought, all the bearings of the 

 case — the hope of advantage and the danger of loss — I 

 determined to proceed from Mr. Appleton's proposition as 

 a base, and see what might be done. I have accordingly 

 spent the last three weeks in a tour of observation and 

 inquiry through New England, to make the acquaintance 

 of some of those who have taken interest in your writings, 

 and I have had a most gratifying experience. I found with 

 most of them a hearty and earnest appreciation for your 

 labours and a deep solicitude for their continuance. 



There was a uniform and strong desire that your books 

 should be issued here in a form suited to the American 

 market, and, I need not add, a cordial and unanimous wish 

 that you should reap every practicable pecuniary advan- 

 tage. The plan I proposed m^et with general concurrence, 

 and it was resolved to issue one of your volumes at once 

 upon the terms offered by Mr. Appleton. 



I have not seen that gentleman lately, but expect to 

 talk with him soon, and arrange the precise terms of the 

 undertaking. There was some diversity of sentiment as to 

 which of your works should be selected for publication, 

 but it was generally thought your Essays would be most 

 successful. Others considered it more desirable to issue 

 First Principles, and in behalf of this opinion it was said 

 that this being your latest work, and coming forward into 

 notice as the opening of a new system of philosophy, it will 

 be more in demand. In this stage of the matter I should 

 be glad to learn what you think upon this point, and also 



lish Social Statics. Probably somebody had told liini tliat the author was 

 an " infidel " or a " positivist." That would have been enough. 



