| Description | (Part of this letter has been cut away.)
["I cannot give you by any other means so good a relation of the progress making at Paris for the disposal of Mrs. Baskerville’s printing apparatus &c. as by sending you the original letters & papers received from thence on that subject, which you will find here inclosed. Pray examine & consider the whole matter well & then give me the best information you can which shall be immediately transmitted. You know that to treat with a Court & particularly such a Court as that of france, there are many engines to be set at work, & that all the wheels of such Engines will turn but heavily unless they are well oiled. Great progress is already made in the business, & probably it will proceed; if it does my friend Perregaux will have much merit, & must be well rewarded; I throw out this circumstance that Mrs. Baskerville may not expect more than she has asked, if quite so much, notwithstanding larger sums are spoken of in the memorials. Pray take care that she does not communicate with any body whatever on this matter before she has an affirmative or negative answer through you; probably she will have some underhand applications thro’ other Channels, to which she must absolutely turn a deaf Ear, or overset everything already done. The negotiation will not be tedious, considering there are innumerable forms of office to go through, before any bargain is finally concluded. It is a great matter, that some of the principal officers of state approve the purchase on the King’s account. You will observe that should the french ministry not close there is a chance of closing with the booksellers of Paris; on the whole Mrs. B. must be cautious in mentioning the affair, & avoid treating with any person whatever till a final answer comes from france. I think you will not be amiss to give me two letters; the one ostensible, speaking of the price &c. as Mr. Perregaux states it, The other that may serve him as a guide for himself. I know you wish to render Mrs. Baskerville service which makes me trouble you without any apology, on the subject."] |