Letter from Arthur Quiller-Couch, Wargrave Hill, to W. E. Henley, 1888 September 20 : autograph manuscript signed.

Apologizing for quoting verses in [The Astonishing History of] "Troy Town" which Henley wrote "...as though they were part of an old song. But I am glad to be able to prove by the enclosed scrap of print, that I did so in all sincerity. The article in the Family Herald was shown me some time ago - I forget exactly how long, but suppose it must have been soon after its publication -- and, for the sake of some of the verses quoted, I have kept it. You will see that the writer of the article directly asserts 'Oh, Amble is a fine town' to be an old song. Consequently when in need of an old sea stave for Caleb Trotter, I quoted it suspecting no guile, but believing it to be as genuinely old as the extracts from the 'Helston Hobby-horse Song' which I put in his mouth on p. 212. But of course I am ready to do whatever I can to set matters right : I am only anxious that you shall first acquit me of any guilt in this matter. So if you will reply to this & tell me what you think it best to do; and in which journal or journals you prefer the correction to appear, I will at once take steps. You say that you gave away at least one copy of the song before it was published in your 'Book of Verses' : and will notice that the 'Family Herald' article antedates that publication considerably (I believe). Possibly this may lead you to some guess at the source of the article. In conclusion : the great pleasure which the verses gave me makes me the more sorry to have done their author a hurt."