"
Leigh Hunt at once accepted the offer.
After the poem was printed and published, being pressed for money, he
wished to sell the copyright. After a recitation of his pecuniary
troubles, Hunt concluded a lengthy letter as follows:
"What I wanted to ask you then is simply this--whether, in the first
instance, you think well enough of the "Story of Rimini" to make you
bargain with me for the copyright at once; or, in the second instance,
whether, if you would rather wait a little, as I myself would do, I
confess, if it were convenient, you have still enough hopes of the work,
and enough reliance on myself personally, to advance me L450 on
security, to be repaid in case you do not conclude the bargain, or
merged in the payment of the poem in case you do."
Mr. Murray's reply was not satisfactory, as will be observed from the
following letter of Leigh Hunt:
_Mr. Leigh Hunt to John Murray_,
_April_ 12, 1816.
Dear Sir,
I just write to say something which I had omitted in my last, and to add
a word or two on the subject of an expression in your answer to it. I
mean the phrase "plan of assistance.
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