Autograph letter signed : Bexleyheath [London], to Andrew Chatto, 1887 December 15.

Concerning the serial rights to his earlier novel, which he did not realize had reverted to the publisher; inquiries from a German editor regarding publication of his works; difficulties with the arrangements to publish his novel The deemster in the Christian world ("They now want a serious piece of re-writing in the second vol, where the Deemster hints at immoralities"); suggesting that they approach Tauchnitz regarding the prospect of publishing the book in the Tauchnitz series; Wilson Barrea's suggestion that The deemster might be dramatized for the stage; an offer from the publisher Blackie & Sons for his next book and his response that he would prefer to stay with his current publisher as they have treated him well; his assurances that he will not take a book to Blackie without their prior knowledge; work on his next story "The last thousand days: the chronicles of Dr. Dee", which he does not expect to have completed soon; asking if they would prefer that he not offer his new story to Blackie & Sons; his willingness to decline Blackie & Son's offer based upon his assurance that Chatto & Windus will do all they can to help him achieve "the position I aim at - that (if it is right to say it) of being second to no novelist of the time".