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Literary
October 26, 1791
Gazette Of The United States
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
A poor English clergyman sells his manuscript for 'Burn's Justice of the Peace' to bookseller Mr. Miller in London for 200 guineas after low offers elsewhere. Miller, valuing honesty, later pays bonuses and provides annual wine, profiting 11,000 pounds from the successful book.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
LITERARY ANECDOTE,
WHICH OUGHT TO BE HAD IN EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE.
The performance known by the title of Burn's Justice of the Peace, was written by a poor clergyman in the north of England. He went to London to sell his manuscript, and enquired of the landlord at the inn where he lodged, if he was acquainted with any bookseller? The master of the house introduced him to a person in trade, who after keeping the manuscript for examination eight days, at last offered him twenty pounds for it. After a variety of disappointments of the same kind, the author waited on Mr. Miller, who was rising fast into fame and fortune. He had sufficient strength of mind to see that "honesty is the best policy;" and by treating every writer with justice, and often with generosity, he acquired a most opulent fortune. He had in his employment gentlemen in every different branch of learning, who were to inform him of the merit of the different books submitted to their inspection. The manuscript in question was transmitted to a Scotch student in the Temple, and Burn in the interim received a general invitation to Mr. Miller's table. In eight or ten days, the manuscript was returned to Mr. Miller, with a note that it would be an excellent bargain at two hundred pounds. Next day after dinner, when the glass had begun to circulate, he asked Burn, what was the lowest sum that he would take? The poor man replied, that the highest offer which he had received was twenty pounds, a sum too small to defray the expences of his journey.—"Will you accept two hundred guineas?" said Mr. Miller. "Two hundred guineas!" cried the parson, clapping his hands, "I am extremely fortunate."—The book went thro' many impressions, and Miller, of his own good will, paid the clergyman an hundred pounds additional for each of them. As the author loved port, the bookseller farther gave him a letter of credit for the purchase of a pipe per annum during the rest of his life, in any wine-cellar in London, where he thought proper. "After all this," added Mr. Miller, in telling the story, "I have lived to clear eleven thousand pounds by the bargain."
WHICH OUGHT TO BE HAD IN EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE.
The performance known by the title of Burn's Justice of the Peace, was written by a poor clergyman in the north of England. He went to London to sell his manuscript, and enquired of the landlord at the inn where he lodged, if he was acquainted with any bookseller? The master of the house introduced him to a person in trade, who after keeping the manuscript for examination eight days, at last offered him twenty pounds for it. After a variety of disappointments of the same kind, the author waited on Mr. Miller, who was rising fast into fame and fortune. He had sufficient strength of mind to see that "honesty is the best policy;" and by treating every writer with justice, and often with generosity, he acquired a most opulent fortune. He had in his employment gentlemen in every different branch of learning, who were to inform him of the merit of the different books submitted to their inspection. The manuscript in question was transmitted to a Scotch student in the Temple, and Burn in the interim received a general invitation to Mr. Miller's table. In eight or ten days, the manuscript was returned to Mr. Miller, with a note that it would be an excellent bargain at two hundred pounds. Next day after dinner, when the glass had begun to circulate, he asked Burn, what was the lowest sum that he would take? The poor man replied, that the highest offer which he had received was twenty pounds, a sum too small to defray the expences of his journey.—"Will you accept two hundred guineas?" said Mr. Miller. "Two hundred guineas!" cried the parson, clapping his hands, "I am extremely fortunate."—The book went thro' many impressions, and Miller, of his own good will, paid the clergyman an hundred pounds additional for each of them. As the author loved port, the bookseller farther gave him a letter of credit for the purchase of a pipe per annum during the rest of his life, in any wine-cellar in London, where he thought proper. "After all this," added Mr. Miller, in telling the story, "I have lived to clear eleven thousand pounds by the bargain."
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Commerce Trade
What keywords are associated?
Literary Anecdote
Burns Justice
Bookseller Miller
Honesty Policy
Manuscript Sale
Generosity Author
Literary Details
Title
Literary Anecdote, Which Ought To Be Had In Everlasting Remembrance.
Subject
The Sale Of Burn's Justice Of The Peace Manuscript
Key Lines
"Honesty Is The Best Policy;"
"Will You Accept Two Hundred Guineas?" Said Mr. Miller.
"Two Hundred Guineas!" Cried The Parson, Clapping His Hands, "I Am Extremely Fortunate."
"After All This," Added Mr. Miller, In Telling The Story, "I Have Lived To Clear Eleven Thousand Pounds By The Bargain."