Ibid., lettre citée par B., p, yï, col. a

AGHÈVEMfiNT DU RECUEIL 6l5

enrers ma famille sans cesse croissante, notre cammon et naturel amour dn gaifii m'ont conduit à aocepler une oSre généreuse (*) », celle de l'éditeur John Murray. Ce dernier, en relations avec Crabbe depuis le 3o juin 1817 (*), se

1. Crabbe à J. Hatchard, Piccadilly « Trowbridge, 11 nov. 1819... Wfaat you observe of our oeanection and its Germination is wbat migtit be expecied from yon. I itm bappy (o reflect upon the past because I find ail was correct and fair : we part not in complainte in resentment, in suspicion. Duty to my family, an increasing family, and that comnion and natural désire of gain, led me to accept a libérai offer, bot it «ertainly abates not my good opinion or takes in any degree (rom my regard. With respect to Mr. Murray I must act justly and as I hâve invested him with ail my right to and claim on the Works which at difTerent peripds you published as mine, be so good as to consider that gentleman as standing in may place with respect lo Ihose works, amd whatever bis wishes and requests are they bave my full consent and concurrence... » (Collection Mackay.) A ce propos il convient de relever une erreur dans le livre suivant: A Publisher and his Fviends : Memoir and Correspondance €f the laie John Murray with an aceount of the origin andprogress ofthe house (1768-1843), by Samuel SMn.ES L. L. D. 2 vol. London, Murray, 1891, où il est dit (vol. H, p. 72) : «r Crabbe had some difficulty in getting his old poems out of the hands of his former publisher, who wrote to him in a 9train ofthe wildest indignation, and even threatened him with légal proeeedings, but eventually the unsold stock, consisting of 2426 copies, was handed over by Hatchard and Colburn to JVfr^ Murray and nothing more was heard of this controversy between them and the poet. » ïi ne faut pas confondre Hatchard et Oolburn. Le premier s'exécuta sans murmure ; la réclamation du second, tout à fait inopinée, ne reposait sur ri«n, comme le prouve la première phrase de cette lettre de Crabbe i^Hurray : « Trowbridge, Jan. 10, 1819^. Dear Sir, I was much surprised by the indosed ietter which I received this moming. I hare known Mr. Colburn some years and bave l>een a nibscriber to his public libcary jnd l 'was acoustomed when in town io go to his shop and talk with him and i am sorry our conversation led to suoh expectattons and such disappointment. 1 remember that I did apeak <^ my dissatislaction and wtshed to change at least the mode of publishiug, but I entered ioEto no contract... » (Collection Murray.) £n ce qm concerne Hatchard, il est probable que Crabbe se partageait avec lui les profits, se réservant d'ailleurs la propriété de ses ouvrages.