Letter from Alfred Douglas, East Knoyle, to Leonard Smithers, 1899 October 6 : autograph manuscript signed.

Proposing a possible Christmas book, "in the style of my animal rhymes...nonsense verse", with illustrations by Max Beerbohm; saying "Of course I should write it under my nom de plume of 'Belgian Hare' the Author of 'Tails with a Twist' which I think ought to ensure it a good sale. Of course it is very late. But if you would promise to publish the book (subject to approval) I could pretty well undertake to get it finished within a week or ten days. Of course the illustrations must be thought of. I wonder if Max Beerbohm would do them? If so they could be done very rapidly as I know he can do that sort of thing very quickly. The thing I am writing is the purest nonsense, it is all one poem. I think it might turn out to be very amusing, but can't say for certain at present. Let me have an answer by return of post if you can. I have come to you firstly because you are sufficiently unbusiness-like (in the ordinary sense of the word) to contemplate rushing out a thing on the spur of the moment, where as Arnold or Grant Richards or others would probably require at least six months to prepare a Xmas book. Secondly because if the book were a success it would be much more amusing to have it with you. However perhaps you won't see your way to arranging, the time is certainly very short."