If this proposal should
not suit you, I beg to add that I shall, for the handsome offer of your
work in the first instance, still remain,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN MURRAY.
Some further correspondence took place as to the title of the work.
"What do you think," said Mr. Disraeli, "of the 'Psychological Memoir'?
I hesitate between this and 'Narrative,' but discard 'History' or
'Biography.' On survey, I conceive the MS. will make four Byronic tomes,
according to the pattern you were kind enough to show me." The work was
at length published in 4 vols., foolscap 8vo, with the title of
"Contarini Fleming: a Psychological Biography."
Before the appearance of the work, Mr. Disraeli wrote to Mr. Murray as
follows:
_Mr. Disraeli to John Murray_.
BRADENHAM HOUSE, _May_ 6, 1832.
DEAR SIR,
From the notice of "C.F." in the _Literary Gazette_, which I received
this morning, I imagine that Jerdan has either bribed the printer, or
purloined some sheets. It is evident that he has only seen the last
volume. It is unnecessary for me to observe that such premature notice,
written in such complete ignorance of the work, can do no good.
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