Letter from Lord Dalling, Paris, to William Shoberl, 1840 December 22 : autograph manuscript signed.

Concerning a request to assist with a book on Prussian history; saying "Nothing but very pressing business w'd have prevented my answering your letter sooner. I am perfectly acquainted with your father's name & abilities. I am much flattered by your offer. I should always be most anxious to do anything that could be agreeable to Mr. Colburn - I know, & have studied something of Prussian history. But I do not clearly understand what you wish me to do. If y'r father has the materials ready - I suppose cast into some shape - This is what I presume, that he desires of me to put them into my style - For this I w'd first have - a plan of the work - & it's divisions, & next, the chapters according to when divisions might come to me, & when I had looked them over, & corrected them according to my notions the work would I presume be done. In this matter it could come say, piece by piece - but perhaps it would be better if it came as a whole. - However without clearly knowing what Mr. Shoberl has already prepared, or what part you wish me to take therein, I can say no more than I did at ye commencement of this letter, that I feel pleased & obliged by the compliment you pay me & that I am always ready to do what I can in Mr. C's interests."