© University of Edinburgh and the Arts & Humanities Research Council
This letter mixes business—a detailed discussion of printing the popular poem Night Thoughts (1742–6)—with friendly banter about the Millar family. Sadly, Richardson’s teasing queries about the health of Andrew Millar junior were mistimed; the boy died the day before Richardson wrote his letter.
Particular At a time when letters were often read aloud and circulated among friends, Particular specified that this letter should be delivered into the hand of its named addressee.
To
31 July, 1750
Being loth to put the new Edition of Although the 1710 copyright law (known as the Act of Anne) was passed by the British parliament, it was enforced only in England. This meant that booksellers in Ireland and Scotland could publish cheaper “pirated” editions of books that had been printed and sold by copyright holders in England. Since the pirated editions were not corrected by authors, and often printed quickly, they were usually of lower quality. In this particular case, however, Richardson refers to one of three recent piracies of Proof: a single printed version awaiting the author’s final corrections. Richardson is discussing a new edition of Young’s poem, Night Thoughts, which was already very popular, and which would become one of the most frequently-printed poems of the eighteenth century. Millar had purchased the copyright to the second volume of Night Thoughts (parts 7-11) from Young for £63 on 7 April 1749; the edition under discussion was the first in which Millar was involved, and it would be advertised for sale in the General Advertiser on 30 January 1750. only a Proof, and will not appear so well, as when it comes to be wrought. I have put a Line more in each Page, than in the little Edition you have with you; but it will not bear 2 Lines. This Edition must be greatly preferable to the Scotish one,Night Thoughts (probably Scottish), each of which was of surprisingly good quality (see next note). To stay ahead on sales, Millar and Richardson had to produce a more correct edition, which bore the fashionable brand-names of Millar and Dodsley. This is the book under discussion. a size larger, i.e., a slightly larger format of duodecimo size (the starting sheet of paper folded into twelfths). fire-new, i.e., fresh from the fire or furnace. This was an allusion to the forged metal type used by printers; newly fired type provided the clearest impression on the page.
What I mentioned the new 8 In the print-shop, the compositor was responsible for reading the manuscript (or, in this case, the duodecimo selected as the “copy”), and setting the type for printing. Richardson points out that the compositor reads the copy, but does not always correct any errors he finds. vo Edition8 vo, i.e., octavo, an edition whose pages have been folded into eighths, and is therefore more expensive and prestigious than the one-volume duodecimo. This was a two-volume edition commissioned by Millar’s neighbouring bookseller, Robert Dodsley, also printed by Richardson. Although Millar had purchased the copyright to the second volume, Dodsley retained the rights to the first volume. All further editions of the poem, until clarifications of the 1710 copyright law were instituted in 1774, would be printed and sold jointly by both booksellers, who shared the investment. Twelves, i.e., a standard leaf of paper folded into twelfths, for a duodecimo edition.
I have put, as you’ll see, the Word This long poem, John Hughs (1703/4–1771; active 1730–71) was Dodsley’s main printer. As the bookseller, Millar not only dealt directly with retail purchasers, but also commissioned Richardson to print the book (i.e., he was Richardson’s customer). Complaint in Sm Capitals, which I think neater, to make room for the Number of the Night.Night Thoughts, is divided into a series of shorter poems, each titled and numbered as a separate night.Subject of the Night-Thought, and has your Approbation, and I think justly, I follow his, rather than the Scotish Edition, in each right-hand Page, in the Running-Titles; and I flatter myself; that the Inscriptive Page of every Night will look as well as possible, to be crouded into so small a Page, and even to more Advantage than it does in the 8vo. But of these things you will be Judge.
The Paper I think is a very good one: William Strahan (1715–85), also Scottish, was a successful printer and Millar’s close friend. Strahan’s third and youngest son Andrew, born 15 January 1750 (d. 1831), had been named after Millar.That, as well as the Print, will look still better, when it comes to be wrought upon. You will in the Binding give Orders for it to be as little cut as possible; and then it will look still better, and be a more sizeable Volume than the pirated one.
And thus much for Business, after I have added, that Philip Skelton’s Three thousand is a particularly ambitious order—this would turn a good profit for Richardson, and an even larger one for Millar.o 2000,Deism Revealed. Or, the Attack on Christianity Candidly Reviewed in its Real Merits. Second Edition. With Amendments appeared in 1751. See Samuel Richardson, Printer: A Study of His Printing Based on Ornament Use and Business Accounts (Dunedin: U of Otago P, 2001)o 3000 for the
And now, How do you All do?—How does our The Millars’ only surviving child, Andrew Jr (b. 2 January 1745), had died at Scarborough the previous day, 30 July; Richardson’s letter would have taken three or four days to reach Millar. See Millar’s wife Jane (née Johnston) Millar (1706/7–1788) and her unmarried sister Margaret Johnston (d. 1757). Young may have verbally anticipated the lines from his poem Andrew Jr was aged five years and six months.Daily Advertiser 6 August 1750, 1.must, if we measure his Benefit by their very great and indulgent Love for him. But I hope in God you will have no Trial for that (however, very laudable) Resignation, which you mention. I did not hear Night Thoughts which Richardson would quote a week later in his 8 August letter of condolence to the Millars (“Past Ills, [...],/Are sunk in Thee, Thou recent Wound of Heart!”). See also Young’s frequently-reprinted sermon on the death of George II, A Vindication of Providence, or a True Estimate of Human Life (1728), which sought to popularise St Paul’s advice to “set your Affections on Things above, and not Things on Earth”.
Yet the Richardson is paraphrasing Aesop’s “Fable of the Oak and the Reed”. He had printed Reed, in some Cases, by bowing with the Storm, will stand, when the Oak will be torn up by the Roots.Aesop’s Fables with Their Morals in 1739, and would do so again in 1753 (possibly also in 1747). See Samuel Richardson
St Mary’s Church, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, where Young had been minister since 1730. It was on the Great North Road, which due to recent improvements was the turnpike route of choice when travelling from London to Scarborough. See Provoke Mrs. Millar’s Anger! methinks I hear her repeat: That he may pretty easily do, if he is so unfriendly as to design it. I am so unfriendly. Absalom, you know, could not procure a Visit from Prime-Minister Joab in his Banishment, till he set his Field of Wheat on Fire. Then posted Joab to him to know the Reason of it.posted , i.e., rushed, like a courier or post rider, who travelled with a relay of horses - i.e., Joab travelled quickly to him. Richardson playfully suggests he will be like the biblical Absalom, who resorted to setting Joab’s field on fire to attract his attention. See 2 Sam. 14: 29–33. The English Spa: A Social History, 1560–1815 (London: Athlone P, 1990)
Methinks I should be glad to say a great deal to them. But they must consider, that I am a Early in Richardson’s sequel to Flint: A good deal of Fire is in me: But there must be a Steel to strike it out.Pamela, Lady Davers tells Pamela that her “good Sense”, combined with her “Itch of Scribbling”, combine as “Flint and Steel” to improve both herself and her correspondents. See Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded (London: for S. Richardson, 1742) vol. 3, 66.Fire lies in my Head: Their Steel (as by recent Instances) in their Hearts: Why will they not strike?—But this as they please. If Men are excessively forward, Women will hold back. And my Courting-Days have been long over.
On my Return from Untraced.Gentleman and the Friend are uppermost in it. Resentment there is, couched, but hardly expressed. So gentle, so —, I am sure every-body would have been pleased with it. Shall I say, without derogating from the Value of any other Man, that this Gentleman’s has not been duly considered?
But no more of this Subject. If I have said too much of it, the Ladies must be thanked for That. They could have found me a better; at least, one more to their own Liking.
Be you all Healthy, Happy, and in every worthy Undertaking Prosperous, is the Wish of,
I have drawn a Line before and after the Inscriptive Part of the Second Night. Please to let me have your Opinion, whether you like that on the Beginning of the First Night best. The Second is more distinct; and with more Space before and after the first Rule, after Complaint, will look still better. n.b. Richardson’s final return to details of publishing in this letter which, typically, blends friendly conversation with practical business arrangements.