The Apostle of Involution. 155 



puthy and personal interest that they might be counted 

 upon to assist the circulation of the work. He replied : 

 " \Ve have a great deal of that kind of talk in the course of 

 business, but it will not do as a basis of action. Yet, if Mr. 

 Spencer has friends who are so much interested in his 

 thought that they are willing to divide with me the risk of 

 publication, I will meet them with an equal liberality. 

 Whatever their action produces shall result in an increased 

 dividend to Mr. Spencer." This was certainly fair, and all 

 I could desire; I have therefore taken action accordingly. 

 But let me here state that Mr. Appleton's refusal to 

 publish the book is by no means to be taken as an index 

 to the universal publishing mind. This house is proverbi- 

 ally slow and cautious; other establishments are more ven- 

 turesome and ready, and would be unhindered by any con- 

 sideration of copyright. I have reason to know that there 

 has been, and is now, much danger of your books being 

 seized upon by other houses. The long and, I think, ex- 

 ceedingly favourable review (considering its orthodoxy) of 

 First Principles in the October New Englander (a copy of 

 which I have ordered sent you at Derby), the recent article 

 in the North American Review, which the author * will send 

 you, and other indications, show a growing appreciation of 

 your works, and I am sure that the danger is imminent of 

 their seizure by other houses. The effect of this would be 

 that you would get nothing from the new publisher, while 

 the competition immediately arising would make it im- 

 possible that any other house should pay you anything. 

 Should Blanchardf publish First Principles and it is far 



* I had just met Youmans for the first time three days before this 

 letter was written, as will appear below. 



f Calvin Blanchard, a disreputable publisher who kept a shop on Nas- 

 sau Street, where you could buy any kind of book that your minister 

 would frown upon whether for free thought or for obscenity made little 

 difference to this unsavoury Calvin. It is odd to find him wanting to pub- 



