Dato: 15. marts 1851
Fra: Richard Bentley   Til: H.C. Andersen
Sprog: engelsk.

New Burlington Street. March 15, 1851.

My dear Friend,

I have within the last hour received your letter of the 25th ult. Sincerely do I sympathize inthe universal and heartfelt joy manifested at Copenhagen on the return of the brave defenders of their Country, from one of the most flagrant violations of the rights of nations, by the infamous German rabble. In this instance at any rate justice has triumphed, and suffer me to join in the Pæans on this happy termination of a bloody war. Would I could have witnessed the joyous scenes you describe.

I waited the arrival of the conclusion of your Manuscript before I determined what to do in regard to it. After turning over the subject carefully I have arrived at the conclusion that the interests of the, work would be best control1ed by its being issued in a volume at once. It will be handsomely printed; and I propose to publish it in the first week of April, so that you will be able to publish the work at Copenhagen at the time you indicate - namely the 25th April. I shall publish the Work on our joint account, guaranteeing you from loss and yielding halt the profit which mayarise. And I hope to be able to give you a good account of it.

We have been here in a perfect state of stagnation as regards business. What with the Popish Aggression, which engrossed public attention for many months before the meeting of Parliament; and the defeat of Ministers, not on one occasion only but on many; literature has languished sadly. Nor do I see much in the prospect cheering. In May (by which time the wise senators who guide Her Majesty's Councils hope to be able to scramble over the interests of the great Empire) we are to have the Crystal Palaee opened, and the World's Fair is to commence Really we must have gone mad! Myriads of people are coming over; and who is to benefit by this monstrous nuisance, Heaven only knows! Truly the fathers and mothers of this notable humbug will have much to answer for. Won't you come and see us? London will certainly present a wonderful sight. Russians, Austrians, Italians, Danes, Norwegians, Swedes, Greeks, Indians and Chine se will all be heaped together in most glorious confusion.

One word more about your note. I would most earnestly recommend you not to dedicate the new book to Mr Jerdan, if for no other reason than that it would most assuredly be attacked on that account in the Athenæum. I shall take upon myself therefore to omit this, and I trust you will think I have done right in this matter. A dedication to Mr. Dickens, to Sir Edw. Bulwer Lytton, Mr. Macaulay, or persons like them might be serviceable, but poor Mr Jerdan, a very goodnatured man certainly, will not serve it at all. He is no longer connected with the Literary Gazette, but the enmity of the Athenæum is not less towards him, and all connected with him.

I have heard from a correspondent of mine, Mr Hurton who had the pleasure of seeing you at Copenhagen. He is about to publish.a work, the result of his travel-journey to your part of the world. He dedicates this work to you, with great propriety. I have not arranged about this work but doubtless in a few days shall do so.

All my family, (who Heaven be blessed! are well) desire to be most kindly remembered to you. Some of these days, now that steamers to go abroad and boats are so reasonable you may expect a visit from one or more of us.

Those were happy days, my friend, when you gladdened us here with your presenee! How fleeting are such joyous days! Let us live on the remembrance of them. Since we met, what terrible scenes have defiled all Europe - in France, Italy, Austria, Hungary - blood and perfidy. With democratic institutions set up only to be knocked down and the manacles of despotic power only the more firmly riveted. The Pope at one time heading the furious storm for reform and now a tyrant skulking about in his palaee, and owing perhaps even his life to French bayonets. And the French themselves, ultra democrats at home openly to stifte liberal institutions in Italy! Ha! it is positively sickening, too sickening to dwell on. God bless and preserve you - may we soon meet again, and an opportunity be afforded me of again testifying to you how really sincerely I desire to remain

your friend,

Richard Bentley

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