[f158r]
[f158v]
I regret that your pressing occupation(s)
will not allow you to favor me with a visit
and that my state of health prevents my again calling
upon you - I have no idea of offering it to
any other house to meet with fresh delays and
with this very great, disadvantage, that I cannot
now offer the m s to any other person as I did
to you with the assurance that not one line of
it had ever been read by any other
publisher --.
And now my dear Sir if upon
consideration of the above circumstances
you are disposed to agree to your original
proposal, of publishing the work upon my
becoming responsible for a proportion of the loss, shd
there be any -- I am willing to consider myself liable
to the amount of one third of the outlay begging
you will oblige me by as early an answer as
may suit your convenience, or that you will favor
with a call
I remain yours
W Collins