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Charles Dickens

Madeline House and Graham Storey (eds), The British Academy/The Pilgrim Edition of the Letters of Charles Dickens, Vol. 1: 1820–1839

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pg 272To RICHARD BENTLEY, [?15 JUNE 1837]*

MS Berg Collection. Date: clearly during the negotiations with Macrone; this must have been the first note whose tone offended Bentley: see next. On mourning paper.

48 Doughty Street | Thursday Evening

My Dear Sir.

The negociation1 is still pending. Up to this time I have heard nothing.

My only immediate object is to prevent the publication of the Sketches in parts. I have an ulterior object also. I unfortunately parted with these valuable copyrights (as I have done with others) without advantage or reflection. In the high tide of my popularity and success I feel that I must no longer act with the same thoughtlessness, and that it is quite time that I should seek to derive some permanent advantage from works from which booksellers derive so much present gain. If I could purchase these copyrights for myself, I would do so (indeed I am prepared to do so) at almost any temporary sacrifice.

  •                                         Faithfully Yours
  •                                              My Dear Sir
  • Richard Bentley Esqre.                         Charles Dickens

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Editor’s Note
1 With Macrone, over the copyright of Sketches.
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