To JOHN FORSTER, [20 JANUARY 1844]

Extract in F, iv, iii, 321–2. Date: "two days later" than letter of?i8 Jan according to Forster.

The farther affidavits put in by way of extenuation by the printing rascals are rather strong, and give one a pretty correct idea of what the men must be who hold on by the heels of literature.³ Oh! the agony of Talfourd at Knight Brace's not hearing him! He had sat up till three in the morning; he says, preparing his speech; and would have done all kinds of things with the affidavits. It certainly was a splendid subject. We have heard nothing from the vagabonds yet.⁴ I once thought of printing the affidavits without a word of comment, and sewing them up with Chuzzlewit. Talfourd is strongly disinclined to compromise with the printers⁵ on any terms. In which case it would be referred to the master⁶ to ascertain what profits had been made by the piracy, and 10 order the same to be paid to me. But wear and tear of law is my consideration.