WILLIAM BLACK.

I published William Black's first three-volume novel in March, 1868, entitled “Love or Marriage,” but it proved much too psychological for ordinary readers; consequently it failed to be anything like a success. However, I felt sure that Black was a very clever young man; and although I had lost money by “Love or Marriage,” I agreed to publish for him another novel that he had ready for the press.

The title, “In Silk Attire,” was more taking, and the subject-matter more likely to please novel readers than that of the former book. I quickly got the new novel out, and it soon found many more readers than “Love or Marriage.” There was no written agreement between us either about “Love or Marriage” or “In Silk Attire,” and I certainly thought I was entitled to charge what I had lost by “Love or Marriage” out of the profit there was on “In Silk Attire,” but I reckoned without my host.

Black objected strongly to my doing so; and as he was right in law, I ultimately let him have his way, but not before many angry letters had passed between us.

I had published both books without the slightest risk to Black; and I considered then, and time has not altered my opinion, that I ought to have been repaid my loss on “Love or Marriage.”