What I thus write is in serious friendship for you.

I entreat you to let us complete what we have already in hand, before we begin upon any other speculation.

You will have enough to do to sell those in which we are already engaged.

As to your mode of exchange and so disposing of your shares, besides the universal obloquy which attends the practice in the mind of every respectable bookseller, and the certain damnation which it invariably causes both to the book and the author, as in the case of Grahame, if persisted in, it must end in serious loss to the bookseller....

If you cannot give me your solemn promise not to exchange a copy of Tasso, I trust you will allow me to withdraw the small share which I propose to take, for the least breath of this kind would blast the work and the author too--a most worthy man, upon whose account alone I engaged in the speculation." Constable, with whom Murray had never entirely broken, had always looked with jealousy at the operations of the house of Ballantyne.