1900-06-27b to Thomas Fisher Unwin

Autograph letter signed, New York Public Library, 367 words

[Edited for paragraph breaks, capitalization, spelling and punctuation.]

92 VICTORIA STREET. S.W.

[Wednesday] June 27th 1900

Dear Fisher Unwin,

On looking over your letter again I see that you practically ask me to forfeit 300£. You ask me to forfeit 250 for your advantage, I should say for our mutual advantage, for this is the sum I am asked to spend in turning a failing property, which is our joint property, Evelyn Innes, into a source of permanent income.

I cannot think how you can think I could accept such an offer. I assure you I would much rather publish the book in translation, or not at all, than make such a fool of myself.

Your desire to impose a publisher upon me who is hardly solvent is inexplicable. Do you really think anyone would agree with you in this? Your claim on the American [rights to Sister Teresa] I do not think to be good law, it certainly is not just, for I never intended to concede it.

The paragraph referring to the American publication of Evelyn Innes was written in afterwards and I did not intend that it should apply to the second book. That it is not a just claim is certain for I did not intend to concede it, that it could be upheld in a court of law I very much doubt.

Evelyn Innes is not a good book as it stands and it will not stand the test of time, but it can be made to stand the test of time I think, and am prepared not only to devote six months to the rewriting of this book but will pay for the resetting and the making of the plates. I do not wish you to destroy the stock of the original edition you have on hand; the two versions can be sold together.

In making this offer I am acting, so it seems to me, not only honourably but liberally, and I hope you will accept it for if you don’t I am afraid nothing but vexation and worry can result.

Truly yours

George Moore