The Notes and Prefaces shall be short; because you shall get the more by saving paper.* LETTER XVI. JOHN DRYDEN. MR. TONSON, TO MR. JACOB TONSON. Friday night, [f. Dec. 1695.] MEETING Sir Robert Howard at the playhouse this morning, and asking him how he lik'd my seaventh Eneid, he told me you had not brought it. He goes out of town to-morrow being Satturday, after dinner. I desire you not to fail of carrying my manuscript for him to read in the country; and desire him to bring it up with him, when he comes next to town. I doubt you have not yet been with my Lord Chesterfield, and am in pain about it. Yours, JOHN DRYDEN. When you have leysure, I shou'd be glad to see how Mr. Congreve and you have worded my propositions for Virgil. When my sonne's play is acted, I intend to translate again, if my health continue. Some time next week let me heare from you concerning the propositions. the place among the first subscribers, which Dryden so peremptorily demands for them. * This seems to be a bitter gibe at Jacob's parsimony. + Perhaps the proposals for the second subscription. See Letter xi. "The Husband his own Cuckold," written by our author's second son, John, and published in July 1696. SIR, LETTER XVII. TO MR. JACOB TONSON. Friday forenoon, [f. Feb. 1695-6.] I RECEIV'D your letter very kindly,* because indeed I expected none; but thought you as very a tradesman as Bentley,† who has cursed our Virgil so heartily. I shall loose enough by your bill upon Mr. Knight; ‡ for after having taking it all in silver, and not in half-crowns neither, but shillings and sixpences, none of the money will go; for which reason I have sent it all back again, and as the less loss will receive it in guinneys at 29 shillings each. 'Tis troublesome to be a looser, but it was my own fault to accept it this way, which I did to avoyd more trouble. The I am not sorry that you will not allow any thing towards the notes; for to make them good, would have cost me half a yeare's time at least. Those I write shall be only marginall, to help the unlearned, who understand not the poeticall fables. prefaces, as I intend them, will be somewhat more learned. It wou'd require seaven yeares to translate Virgil exactly. But I promise you once more to do my best in the four remaining books, as I have hitherto done in the foregoing. Upon triall I find all of your trade are sharpers, and you not more than others; therefore I have not wholly left you. Mr. Aston does not blame you for getting as good a bargain as you cou'd, though I cou'd * Tonson's answer to the foregoing letter, seems to have been pacific and apologetical, yet peremptory as to his terms. + Richard Bentley, a bookseller and printer, who lived in Russel Street, Covent Garden. A banker or goldsmith, afterwards notorious for his share in the South Sea scheme, to which Company he was cashier. have gott an hundred pounds more; and you might have spared almost all your trouble if you had thought fit to publish the proposalls for the first subscriptions; for I have guynneas offered me every day, if there had been room; I believe modestly speaking, I have refused already 25. I mislike nothing in your letter therefore, but onely your upbraiding me with the publique encouragement, and my own reputation concerned in the notes; when I assure you I cou'd not make them to my mind in less than half a year's time. Get the first half of Virgil transcribed as soon as possibly you can, that I may put the notes to it; and you may have the other four books which lye ready for you when you bring the former; that the press may stay as little as possibly it can. My Lord Chesterfield has been to visite me, but I durst say nothing of Virgil to him, for feare there should be no void place for him; if there be, let me know; and tell me whether you have made room for the Duke of Devonshire. Haveing no silver by me, I desire my Lord Derby's money, deducting your own. And let it be good, if you desire to oblige me, who am not your enemy, and may be your friend, JOHN DRYDEN. Let me heare from you as speedily as you can. LETTER XVIII. TO MR. JACOB TONSON. May 26th, [1696.] SEND word, if you please, Sir, what is the most you will give for my sonn's play, that I may take the fairest chapman, as I am bound to do for his benefit; and if you have any silver which will go, my wife will be glad of it. I lost thirty shillings or more by the last payment of fifty pounds, you made at Mr. Knights. W-ch Yours, JOHN DRYDEN. Sir Ro: Howard* writt me word, that if I cou'd make any advantage by being paid in clipp'd money, he woud change it in the Exchequer. MR. TONSON, LETTER XIX. TO MR. JACOB TONSON. Thursday Morning, [f. Aug. 1696.] I HAD yesterday morning two watches sent me. by Mr. Tompion, which I am to send my sonnes this week. I cou'd not persuade him to take gold at any rate: but he will take a goldsmith's bill for two and twenty pounds, which is their price. desire you wou'd give him such a bill, and abate it out of the next fifty pounds which you are to pay me when Virgil is finish'd. Ten Eneids are finish'd, and the ninth and tenth written out in my own hand. You may have them with the eight, which is in a foul copy, when you * Sir Robert Howard had been appointed auditor of the Exchequer in 1673, and held that office till his death. The celebrated watchmaker, who was originally a jacksmith.-MALONE. They were at this time at Rome. please to call for them, and to bring those which are transcrib'd. Mr. Tompion's man will be with me at four o'clock in the afternoon, and bring the watches, and must be payd at sight. I desire you therefore to procure a goldsmiths bill, and let me have it before that houre, and send an answer by my boy. Yours, JOHN DRYDEN. MR. TONSON, LETTER XX. TO MR. JACOB TONSON. Wednesday afternoon. From the Coffee-house. Nov. 25th. I HAVE the remainder of my Northamptonshyre rents come up this weeke, and desire the favour of you to receive them for me, from the carrier of Tocester, who lodges at the Castle in Smithfield. I suppose it is the same man from whom you lately receiv'd them for my wife. Any time before ten o'clock to-morrow morning will serve the turne. If I were not deeply ingaged in my studyes, which will be finish'd in a day or two, I would not put you to this trouble. I have inclos'd my tenant's letter to me, for you to shew the carrier, and to testify the summ, which is sixteen pounds and about tenn shillings; which the letter sets down. Pray, Sir, give in an acquittance for so much receiv'd, as I suppose you did last time. I am, Your very faithful Servant, VOL. XVIII. JOHN DRYDEN. I |
