Dato: 17. december 1847
Fra: Richard Bentley   Til: H.C. Andersen
Sprog: engelsk.

New Burlington Street. Friday, Dec. 17th, 1847.

My dear Friend,

I only received your MS of the Christmas Book on the evening of Wednesday, when it was too late to have any illustrations prepared for it. But the small amount of pages quite alarms me as to the course l must pursue. It is perfectly hopeless to endeavour to make any kind of volume out of it. Consequently I have nothing left me but to add a story or two which Mr. Beckwith had previously sent me for the Miscellany. I have no other course except passing your few pages through the Miscellany, where they would not make a sheet. All tbis is very unfortunate - but cannot now be helped.

I had already sent to Count Reventlow a copy of lmprovisatore and the Miscellany containing Thorwaldsen. Five other copies of each await your directions how they shall be sent.

I am waiting for the Hartz Journey with some little impatience, lest anybody else should anticipate us. Your directions respecting copies of the Christmas Greeting shall be carefully attended to. How shall I send yr. copies? I will carefully convey to E. Bulwer Lytton your message. To your cordial Christmas Greeting I respond with thanks and most heartfelt sineerity.

In as much as you have conveyed to others happy and beautiful thoughts may they dwell with you!

God bless you

in which expression all my fireside unite.

Yours most sincerely,

Richard Bentley.

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