23 February 1852. Browning, Robert to Chapman, Edward.

              Paris, Avenue des Champs Elysées 138.

Feb. 23. ’52.

Dear Sir,

I am much obliged to you for the Accounts. I have no doubt they are as correct as they are circumstantial. The only point that a little surprises me is, that, should all our books sell to the last copy, we shall receive such a trifle by comparison with what luckier authors get daily-if one may trust report. I don’t complain that people won’t buy poetry, but think it a little hard that when they do buy, for instance, 700 copies of a two volume work, my wife is only to get a good deal within what Moxon gave me the other day for a preface which might have been comprised, had I stuck to the agreement, within 25 or 30 pages. I am glad that the sale on the other books goes on surely if slowly; let us hope that next June’s account will show better things. Meanwhile, I hope you will be good enough to send my wife the Balance due to her on her Poems. Our publications are all separate speculations, and you will not, I am sure, be accessory to making her repent that she married me, poems and all! Mr Forster will kindly take care of the money, I know.

Ever yours faithfully,

Robert Browning.