160 Edward Livingston Youmans. 



a somewhat painful one to me. However, I hope that what 

 steps are taken will be taken with such caution that those 

 who stand in the position of guarantors will surfer no 

 loss. . . . 



The first part of this letter answers several of the 

 questions contained in yours. The new volume of Essays 

 is now issued here, and the two hundred and fifty copies for 

 America are on their way to you. In printing these two hun- 

 dred and fifty only for your market I acted on the opinion 

 which you sent me, and, not anticipating any such step as 

 that which you are proposing to take, did not stereotype. 

 Unfortunately, therefore, we cannot supply you with a 

 cheap edition of this book from the English type. Of First 

 Principles you can, as I think you know, have an unlimited 

 supply at a cheap rate. ... I am by no means sure, how- 

 ever, that First Principles would be the best book to start 

 with. I agree in the impression that the Essays are more 

 likely to be popular. I agree also in the belief that the 

 title Essays is a bad one ; and I agree also in the notion 

 that a selection from the two series of Essays would be the 

 most likely to succeed. The contents of the new volume 

 are as follows: The Nebular Hypothesis, Illogical Geol- 

 ogy, The Physiology of Laughter, Bain on the Emotions 

 and the Will, The Social Organism, Representative Gov- 

 ernment What is it good for ? Parliamentary Reform ; the 

 Dangers and the Safeguards, Prison Ethics, State Tamper- 

 ings with Money and Banks, The Morals of Trade. Now, 

 bearing in mind all that you tell me, the proposal I make 

 is this: i. That you sell off the two hundred and fifty 

 copies of the new series of Essays as soon as you get them 

 at the ordinary American prices ; and similarly with what 

 you have remaining of the first series, so that the high- 

 priced stock may be at once got rid of. 2. That out of the 

 two series you then select all the essays bearing directly 

 on the doctrine of evolution, viz., Progress Its Law and 



