Letter 4
[Charleston, September 28, 1841]
[37]
My dear Madame:
My new work is not yet published, though I suppose it will be very
shortly. I have not a Sheet or passage of it in my possession, and by the
time you could receive them from Phila. I suspect the whole work would
be in the hands of the public. I should have no sort of reluctance to provide
you with the sheets, were I able. I send by Mr. Hart's bundle to Mr.
Griffin a copy of my Poems. I am in possession of a few copies which I
should like to dispose of, as I happened to be originally interested in their
Sale. Do you suppose that Macon would furnish a market to a small extent.
Pray, oblige me by making this inquiry of your husband to whom they may
be sent if the prospect of selling them shall seem fair to him. For my own
part I have no faith in our taste for any of the Fine arts. I send you by this
mail, a copy of the Charleston Courier of this day which
contains a notice of the "Companion."[38] Our papers are chiefly business
sheets, do
not deal
much in Literary Criticism and perhaps exercise a very small influence over
the opinions of our people. You are already in possession of my opinions
on the subject of periodical Literature and its chances of success in the
South. Your State betrays a more active character, and a more ambitious
spirit, in Literary matters than any of its Southern Sisters, and this may
tend to falsify my predictions and disperse my fears. At all Events,
whatever I may do incidentally in promoting the success of your journal,
shall be done. But individually I go but Seldom into Society, and my time
is really so much tasked, that I am prevented doing what I would, for
yourself & other literary friends, in the shape of an occasional notice
in
the public prints. I trust shortly to be relieved from this pressure, when, if
a kind word from me will be of service, your work shall have it. —
The
writer of the Pacolette papers is not a Mr. Porter, but "Col. Henry of
Spartanburg."
[39] I really forget his
Christian name & address, but will Endeavor to procure & send
them
to you. Possibly, a communication addressed simply as above will find him
out. You should secure the contributions of Dr. Wm. H. Simmons of St.
Augustine,
[40] a gentleman who writes
a very excellent article in Prose & verse, though a very villainous
scrawl. Your Printer will be very apt to regard it as Tony Lumpkin
regarded the pothooks of his cousin. He is the author of an account of the
Seminole Indians, and of "Onea" one of the most beautiful fragments of
Southern poetry which I can now lay my hands on. He may also have in his
possession some of the inedited M.S.S. of his brother who is now Treasurer
of the Republic of Texas — Mr. James W. Simmons, the author of
"The
Exile's Return" and sundry other
volumes of prose &
verse.
No doubt you would be able to secure
a valuable Contributor in W. H. S. and he might prompt his brother
ultimately to give you a series of Texan sketches to which task he is very
Competent. My History of South Carolina,
[41] has now been published about a
year. It
is very generally adopted in our Schools and will probably become in time
the Class Book throughout the State. I am now meditating a Second &
Stereotype Edition, and would be glad to supply Mr. Griffin with any
number for his series on very favorable terms. For the copyright of the
work, my price is $3,000. I had commenced taking notes
for a History of Georgia, on a similar plan, but laid it aside under the
pressure of other labors.
[42] I will
probably finish it this winter, and should be pleased to find a Purchaser for
it in Mr. Griffin. It would not be so copious a work as that of South
Carolina. Should Mr. G. be so pleased I should like to treat with him for
two abridged histories of Carolina & Georgia. These, however, it
appears to me should be separate. We in South Carolina are under the
impression that there is some little jealousies toward us, in some sections
of your State, which operate unfavorably to both Countries. It is one
important work before you as Editress to smoothe down these ruffling
prejudices, and inspire the people of both regions with a Sense of the
necessity of harmonious action as the only means of securing a common
fame and a prolonged existence. To recur — I should be pleased to
have
proposals from Mr. G. for Either one or both of these
Histories. — I shall be very well pleased to receive the series of your
Publications.
[43] I have two daughters,
the one 12, the other 2 years old, to whom they will be valuable.
—
With much respect,
I am, Madam,
Yr very obt Servant
W. G. Simms
P. S. I can provide Mr. Griffin with a few copies of three of my
works, which I suspect have never been offered for sale in Macon —
viz:
Carl Werner & Other Tales, 2 vols.
Southern Passages & Pictures, 1 — and
Atlantis— (pamphlet)[44]
The sale of these would promote my interests in Some small degree.
Respectfully
W. G. S.
Mrs. S. L. Griffin