582 Edward Livingston Youmans. 



Mr. Spencer, will observe both an indecision and a confu- 

 sion in the statement. This was due not only to hasty 

 writing but to some perplexity in my own mind. I said, 

 " If I thought no one else would print the correspondence " 

 (controversy), " I should be in favour of our not doing it " ; 

 and I then go on to give reasons for this conclusion, end- 

 ing with the remark, " On the whole, it may be politic to 

 reprint." Apparently this indifference to publication is 

 inconsistent with the various reasons I have given for 

 strongly desiring it. But there was a consideration not 

 mentioned in the letter which weighed much with me at the 

 time. I was in very bad health, and was urged by physicians 

 and friends to go South without delay. It seemed therefore 

 to be impracticable, if not impossible, for me to give that 

 attention to the editing and publication of the volume 

 which were prompted by my interest in it. But it will be 

 noticed that, under this conflict of inclinations, though I 

 gave some trivial reasons for non-publication, the conclusion 

 favours reprinting. This shows the predominant feeling, 

 even in a time of depression ; and I must say, as a matter 

 of fact, that, though referring the matter as I did in a hur- 

 ried note to Mr. Spencer, I had not for a moment really 

 relinquished the purpose of bringing out the book. This 

 explanation is necessary, that the responsibility may rest 

 where it properly belongs. Mr. Harrison lays stress upon 

 Spencer's agency in " promoting and assisting " in the pro- 

 duction of " a volume for which you are responsible, and 

 which you have authorized and adopt." But though Mr. 

 Spencer chose to take the responsibility because he had 

 assented to it, and furnished some notes for it, yet it was 

 neither by his suggestion, procurement, nor desire that the 

 book was issued ; and truth requires me here to say that, if 

 he had discouraged or even opposed it, the book would 

 probably have been reprinted by D. Appleton & Co. all the 

 same. Mr. Spencer had, in reality, very little to do with 



