LIVINGSTONE (DAVID)
Autograph letter signed ("David Livingstone"), to his publisher John Murray ("My dear Mr Murray"), abandoning work on Missionary Travels in disgust on hearing of further piracies from Lord Dulcie ("...There does not seem much use in my toiling any longer over this book. I would much rather travel than write about it... you will agree with me it will be better for me to be off to Africa where I may be able to do some good than waste time in contending with these heartless pirates. I shall refund every penny you have expended on the plates when I get the Testimonial fund into my hands so you will lose nothing by your kindness in undertaking the publication..."); adding that he supposes Houlston & Wright were emboldened by his "peaceably allowing Routledge to proceed in his very questionable course" ("...No case ever so far as I am aware occurred of a missionary's letters being collected and published without any reference to the man himself. They did not I believe become the literary property of either the missionary society or of the British Banner or of any other paper by publication, they had no right to publish them in a collected form but as others are determined to take advantage of my wish to avoid all wrangling and contention I prefer to give up the thing altogether..."), 5 pages, minor thrips damage in small areas of the paper (affecting only a couple of letters) but otherwise in good and attractive condition, 8vo, 57 Sloane Street, 15 March 1857