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market； and I have come to the conclusion that； though you might be
profitably employed upon evangelical novels； you could earn more
money for me； sir； and consequently for yourself； by a compilation
of Newgate lives and trials。'
'Newgate lives and trials！'
'Yes； sir；' said the publisher； 'Newgate lives and trials； and now；
sir； I will briefly state to you the services which I expect you to
perform； and the terms which I am willing to grant。 I expect you；
sir； to compile six volumes of Newgate lives and trials； each
volume to contain by no manner of means less than one thousand
pages； the remuneration which you will receive when the work is
completed will be fifty pounds； which is likewise intended to cover
any expenses you may incur in procuring books； papers； and
manuscripts necessary for the compilation。 Such will be one of
your employments； sir； … such the terms。 In the second place； you
will be expected to make yourself useful in the Review … generally
useful； sir … doing whatever is required of you； for it is not
customary； at least with me； to permit writers； especially young
writers； to choose their subjects。 In these two departments； sir；
namely compilation and reviewing； I had yesterday； after due
consideration； determined upon employing you。 I had intended to
employ you no farther； sir … at least for the present； but； sir；
this morning I received a letter from my valued friend in the
country； in which he speaks in terms of strong admiration （I don't
overstate） of your German acquirements。 Sir； he says that it would
be a thousand pities if your knowledge of the German language
should be lost to the world； or even permitted to sleep； and he
entreats me to think of some plan by which it may be turned to
account。 Sir； I am at all times willing； if possible； to oblige my
worthy friend； and likewise to encourage merit and talent； I have；
therefore； determined to employ you in German。'
'Sir；' said I； rubbing my hands； 'you are very kind； and so is our
mutual friend； I shall be happy to make myself useful in German；
and if you think a good translation from Goethe … his SORROWS for
example； or more particularly his FAUST … '
'Sir；' said the publisher； 'Goethe is a drug； his SORROWS are a
drug； so is his FAUSTUS； more especially the last； since that fool
… rendered him into English。 No； sir； I do not want you to
translate Goethe or anything belonging to him； nor do I want you to
translate anything from the German； what I want you to do； is to
translate into German。 I am willing to encourage merit； sir； and；
as my good friend in his last letter has spoken very highly of your
German acquirements； I have determined that you shall translate my
book of philosophy into German。'
'Your book of philosophy into German； sir？'
'Yes； sir； my book of philosophy into German。 I am not a drug；
sir； in Germany as Goethe is here； no more is my book。 I intend to
print the translation at Leipzig； sir； and if it turns out a
profitable speculation； as I make no doubt it will； provided the
translation be well executed； I will make you some remuneration。
Sir； your remuneration will be determined by the success of your
translation。'
'But； sir … '
'Sir；' said the publisher； interrupting me； 'you have heard my
intentions； I consider that you ought to feel yourself highly
gratified by my intentions towards you； it is not frequently that I
deal with a writer； especially a young writer； as I have done with
you。 And now； sir； permit me to inform you that I wish to be
alone。 This is Sunday afternoon； sir； I never go to church； but I
am in the habit of spending part of every Sunday afternoon alone …
profitably I hope； sir … in musing on the magnificence of nature
and the moral dignity of man。'
CHAPTER XXXIV
The two volumes … A young author … Intended editor … Quintilian …
Loose money。
'WHAT can't be cured must be endured；' and 'it is hard to kick
against the pricks。'
At the period to which I have brought my history； I bethought me of
the proverbs with which I have headed this chapter； and determined
to act up to their spirit。 I determined not to fly in the face of
the publisher； and to bear … what I could not cure … his arrogance
and vanity。 At present； at the conclusion of nearly a quarter of a
century； I am glad that I came to that determination； which I did
my best to carry into effect。
Two or three days after our last interview； the publisher made his
appearance in my apartment； he bore two tattered volumes under his
arm； which he placed on the table。 'I have brought you two volumes
of lives； sir；' said he； 'which I yesterday found in my garret； you
will find them of service for your compilation。 As I always wish
to behave liberally and encourage talent； especially youthful
talent； I shall make no charge for them； though I should be
justified in so doing； as you are aware that； by our agreement； you
are to provide any books and materials which may be necessary。
Have you been in quest of any？'
'No；' said I； 'not yet。'
'Then； sir； I would advise you to lose no time in doing so； you
must visit all the bookstalls； sir； especially those in the by…
streets and blind alleys。 It is in such places that you will find
the description of literature you are in want of。 You must be up
and doing； sir； it will not do for an author； especially a young
author； to be idle in this town。 To…night you will receive my book
of philosophy； and likewise books for the Review。 And； by the bye；
sir； it will be as well for you to review my book of philosophy for
the Review； the other reviews not having noticed it。 Sir； before
translating it； I wish you to review my book of philosophy for the
Review。'
'I shall be happy to do my best； sir。'
'Very good； sir； I should be unreasonable to expect anything beyond
a person's best。 And now； sir； if you please； I will conduct you
to the future editor of the Review。 As you are to co…operate； sir；
I deem it right to make you acquainted。'
The intended editor was a little old man； who sat in a kind of
wooden pavilion in a small garden behind a house in one of the
purlieus of the city； composing tunes upon a piano。 The walls of
the pavilion were covered with fiddles of various sizes and
appearances； and a considerable portion of the floor occupied by a
pile of books all of one size。 The publisher introduced him to me
as a gentleman scarcely less eminent in literature than in music；
and me to him as an aspirant critic … a young gentleman scarcely
less eminent in philosophy than in philology。 The conversation
consisted entirely of compliments till just before we separated；
when the future editor inquired of me whether I had ever read
Quintilian； and； on my replying in the negative； expressed his
surprise that any gentleman should aspire to become a critic who
had never read Quintilian； with the comfortable information；
however； that he could supply me with a Quintilian at half…price；
that is； a translation made by himself some years previously； of
which he had； pointing to the heap on the floor； still a few copies
remaining unsold。 For some reason or other； perhaps a poor one； I
did not purchase the editor's translation of Quintilian。
'Sir；' said the publisher； as we were returning from our visit to
the editor； 'you did right in not purchasing a drug。 I am not
prepared； sir； to say that Quintilian is a drug； never having seen
him； but I am prepared to say that man's translation is a drug；
judging from the heap of rubbish on the floor； besides； sir； you
will want any loose money you may have to purchase the description
of literature which is required for your compilation。'
The publisher presently paused before the entrance of a very
forlorn…looking street。 'Sir；' said he； after looking down it with
attention； 'I should not wonder if in that street you find works
connected with the description of literature which is required for
your compilation。 It is in streets of this description； sir； and
blind alleys； where such works are to be found。 You had better
search that street； sir； whilst I continue my way。'
I searched the street to which the publisher had pointed； and； in
the course of the three succeeding days； many others of a similar
kind。 I did not find the description of literature alluded to by
the publisher to be a drug； but； on the contrary； both scarce and
dear。 I had expended much more than my loose money long before I
could procure materials even for the first volume of my
compilation。
CHAPTER XXXV
Francis Ardry … Certain sharpers … Brave and eloquent … Opposites …
Flinging the bones … Strange places … Dog…fighting … Learning and
letters … Batch of dogs … R