John Foster, Stapleton, to a Mr. Strong, Clare Street, London, Friday ?

Friday

Dear Sir,     

         Happening to fall on the March No of the Athenaeum yesterday, I found that Stephen’s second visit to Central America is in 2 vols. I had named it as only one in requesting you to order it. Having the former 2 vols I had need complete the thing by having this second ^part^. The March Athenaeum announces it, I suppose mistakenly, as published. There is, I see, a new No of Edinb. Review. I don’t know whether there be a later than 142 of the Quarterly, the last recd.

         The other eday I forgot to mention the Campo Lanto and to ask for the sheet of letter-press and the one plate which I left with you several months since.

         I meant to say that at the reduced price of 23s I would rather retain than return the defective work. On again looking at it I have come into some doubt whether it really be defective. At the end of the Introduction there is a vignette, rather large for a vignette, but small compared with the subsequent plates. This vignette is an exterior view of one side of the C. Lanto. It is not marked as No I. but I have very much wished to think it may be meant for the plate in question. And I do think it is possible, and not quite impossible it may be so. This supposition did occur to me in the former inspection; but I concluded against it, from the comparative smallness of the plate and its having no number marked. The part may be ascertained in the letter-press if I were not quite ignorant of Italian.

         I am very desirous to make out that the work is complete; and this contributes to make me willing to think the probability is as much, fully as much, in favour of the affirmation as the contrary; and willing to retain the work at the first named price of 30s. It is a very curious one. – Bohn has a work on the same subject on a larger scale.

         But there is another unlucky thing to be mentioned. It was not till after I had amused myself in the twilight in cutting open Webster’s English Dictionary, that I found there is a sheet wanting. It is in the first vol. the second sheet (signature C) after the proper beginning of the Dictionary in alphabet, after the introductory part. And in the place of the missing sheet there is put a duplicate sheet (signature [C] of that introductory part. – This caused my not perceiving distinctly the default on my first slight inspection.

         I do not see how this matter is to be put to rights. I suppose you had the copies of Bohn; and I think this Dictionary is one of the works of which he ^is^ proprietor of the remnant copies. If so, he can easily supply the missing sheet. You will judge what is best to be done. I am desirous to retain so cheap as useful a book if it can be made complete. – I wish I had not taken of its character of newness by cutting it open.

         The Bacon’s Works, having cost £11.0.0 & £3.0.0. – 14!! ought to make a good figure in place of the one in boards – and it certainly does so. But I had been in a quandary between it and having the other copy half-bound, uncut, which would perhaps be the wiser, that it, the more [saving?] plan.

         Will you please to order a copy of my Essays, 12mo in guires, in order to have it handsomely bound, lined with that new and very curious, and I think elegant pattern that was shown me the other day; gilt edges, decorated back, green or blue turkey or morocco. It is meant in place and preference to a former one ^still in my possession^ for a lady to whom I have considerable obligations.

                                 Dear Sir, yours truly   J. Foster

Address: Mr Strong | Clare Street

Postmark: Stapleton

Text: John Foster Folder, RG 1107, American Baptist Historical Society Archives, Atlanta. Included in this folder is a copy of John Foster's Obituary, Bath and Cheltenham Gazette, 25 October 1843.