3 Halkin Street, Grosvenor Place, London, S.W.
My dear Mr. Andersen,
I would sooner have done myself the pleasure of writing to you to acknowledge the receipt of your kind letter, and the 4 volumes of "Nye Eventyr og Historier", but I have been waiting for an answer from Mr. Bentley, who has not yet decided whether he will publish them in English or not.
Immediately on receiving your Tales I wrote to Mr. Bentley, and then called upon him - but I did not see himself, only his sons. I left with them an English translation of your letter to me - a list (in English) of the tales, and the 4 volumes themselves. I was promised an early answer, but it has not yet come. I have, however, sent for the 4 volumes of "Eventyr og Historier" - and am going on with the translation - for there is no use to wait, doing nothing, while Mr. Bentley is making up his mind.
They are charming stories, and I have no doubt will be much admired in this country. I am much obliged to you for the confidence you place in me, in sending your new book to me for translation, and I shall take every care to do it as well as I possibly can.
There is, however, a beautiful simplicity in the Danish language, of which the English language is scarcely capable.
Whenever I hear whether your friend Mr. Bentley will publish your work, or not, I will write to you without delay.
Accept my cordial congratulations on its success in Denmark, which must have been very pleasing to you,
Mr. Bushby and my family join me in kindest remembrances, and I am, dear Mr. Andersen,
yours most sincerely,
5 March, 1860.
A. S. Bushby.
