Please excuse my half sheet of paper it means economy both of time & postage - but I am anxious to tell you that I trust your friend Mr. Skeats has crossed the sea safely & will soon be in your possession, a friend from Brussels has kindly taken it over, & I promised you would givep2a prayer for her trouble as it was cumbersome, & Victor Vercruysse will fetch it has[1] she had something for him as well - I trust it will be all you could wish, when I opened it I noticed a little mark on the cover but I had not the time to ask the bookseller to procure me another copy - for I was anxious to save you all expense of carriage, I was expecting my friend and waited to give you definite news - you will be glad to hearp3that it only cost 27/ - there is a discount of 3d. in the shilling for cash which is a great advantage - Marie Vercruysse always has some money of mine, so if you like to hand her the amount, I think that would save you all trouble & expense - I will look out in the reviews for publications that may be interesting to you & let you know when I am fortunate to alight on anything -
Please accept my apologies for my stupid missptelling[2] of your name[3] I might have corrected it by the Directory - but I cannot regret myp4error as the correction was so extremely interesting that I fear it may confirm me in my evil ways -
The translation of your little book[4] would be very acceptable my father's tongue is mine "par predilection", though I am glad my mother's[5] make a bond with many valued Belgian friends - I wish that Cambridge Manuscript would bring you to England is there any chance of it? - There is a committee for erecting a monument [6]of some kind to Longfellow, this will I am sure have your hearty sympathy.[7]