Thirteen autograph letters signed, all but one to J.T.J. Hewlett, author of "Peter Priggins", and others.

(Name with quantity of letters and years of writing if known in brackets.)J.T.J. Hewlett to Henry Colburn*, publisher (1; 1844), declining dinner and planning his daughter's visit to the Colburns.Henry Colburn* (13 including one to Walesley, acting as Hewlett's agent; 1840-1844), publisher (BBTI). It appears that Colburn conducted the correspondence while Hewlett looked set for success, but put it in the hands of his staff later on (see below). His letters have personal matter in them but include information (terms, payments, advertising) about Hewlett's publications, articles for the New Monthly Magazine (NMM) and novels. (1840) He is sending the remaining plates of "Peter Priggins" and is eager to publish it. (1841) He discusses the manuscript of the next work, The Parish Clerk (pub.1841), reminding Hewlett of the terms. He later asks for a passage implying incest to be removed. ([1841]) He insists that illustrations would not benefit a work of its kind. (1844) He announces that "only about 120 Copies [of Parsons and Widows (pub. 1844)] have been taken up by the trade!" His letter to Walesley [Hewlett's "agent"] declines the terms suggested for a work projected by Hewlett, emphatically requiring it to be completed, "read and its value determined it being an entirely new line of writing for Mr. Hewlett."With: MS. Memorandum of Agreement, signed, one page, fol., 17 April 1846, between Hewlett and Colburn for Great Tom of Oxford (pub. 1846).And: MS.Receipt, 1844-1845, giving details of articles to NMM contributed by Hewlett, number of pages and payments. It o lists the novel Great Tom of Oxford. (I know of no other surviving NMM Receipt.)Mrs Eliza Colburn, later Mrs John Forster, to Miss Hewlett (1). Personal.Colburn staff: a. Daniel Hurst (11; 1844-1846; Boase; Brown), later of Hurst & Blackett (37), the publishing firm which bought most of Colburn's copyrights on his retirement (see Matthew Rosa, The Silver-Fork School, Columbia University Press, 1936, p.187, and Veronica Melnyk, 'Half Fashion and Half Passion': The Life of Publisher Henry Colburn (Ph.D. thesis, 2002, unpublished (Melnyk), p.35) and occupied Colburn's old premises, 13 Great Marlborough Street from 1854 (see Hood, p.557). He discusses aspects of Hewlett's articles, Blanchard's and Hood's illness and death, Hewlett's illness, the novel Dunster Castle (pub. by Colburn in 1845), and Colburn's views on various matters, including his rejection of a proposal by Hewlett. Hurst tries to be helpful by informing Hewlett that Hood's Magazine could not find room for his work, suggesting that he should approach Spottiswoode (below) for "an engagement" on the Pictorial Times, and that he should accept Bentley's offer on a new work (below). b. Frederic Shoberl* (1; 1845), author and publisher. He discusses the travellers from Essex he is welcoming at Hewlett's request. Melnyk, p.38, describes him as a "freelancer", not a member of Colburn's staff. He obviously retained a personal relationship with Hewlett from his days with Colburn. c. William Shoberl (5; 1841), later publisher in his own right (mentioned in DNB article on his father, Frederic; prob. BBTI as "Printer?"). He discusses the proofs and the title of The Parish Clerk, seeking an alternative and some idea of the plot. He tells him the nature of the "literary notice" required for the advertising of the book, and discusses the illustrations and copy for "Graduates and Undergraduates", a series in NMM. He says that Colburn has not decided "who is to supply the place of poor Mr. [Theodore] Hook [died 24 August 1841] as Editor of the NMM." d. Robert Folkestone Williams (3; 1840-1841) (1840) He discusses Colburn's suggestion that they should "induce Mr. Hook to offer his name to [Peter Priggins] as Editor." (1841) On Colburn's prompting he suggests the removal from The Parish Clerk of a passage implying incest. (1841) He reports Colburn's opinion that The Parish Clerk should have "a careful revision, such as Peter Priggins received from Mr. Hook." This archive adds substantially to knowledge of a significant publisher, his employees, and one of his authors. It has as much substance and importance as the holdings of Colburn (& Bentley) in the BL. Originally from a larger archive, the residue of which is described in #3157 (Hewlett's papers), this and other items appear in my ABE inventory in book id#s 3124-3156. Total, 37 items,