BLACKWELL FAMILY ELIZABETH BLACKWELL GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE From Ernest Bell11. May 1893 Dear Dr. Blackwell I return the proofs herewith. I have been much pleased with the matter and think it will make a valuable book- very much ahead of the present laboratory standard. If all physiologists were as gentle[?] as Dr. Richardson I think the antivivisection agitation would soon die a natural death. Of course there are some points on which I am inclined to disagree and you will see Ihave made a few remarks which may or may not seem reasonable and which must be taken for what they are worth. I shall like to see the other chapters when they get into the proof stage. I am very glad to hear that you are trying for a paper at Nottingham. When the time comes nearer we will try to arrange for some fighting members to go. We have sent to your American correspondent. Believe me Yours very truly Ernest Bell Telegraphic Address, "Bohn, London." G. Bell & Sons Publishers London, 5 York Street, Covent Garden 15. May. 1893 Dear Dr. Blackwell The arrangement with Dr. R is rather a peculiar one, for though we have really paid him for the book, more should think that its commercial value, it seems to be understood that it still belongs to him and he is at liberty to make terms over again with some publisher. In the natural course the M.S. would be considered the property of the Trust to deal with as they thought fit. The fact of hisprinting it himself gives him some rights in the future of the book but what sort of arrangement we are to make in the event if the author's dying will have to depend a good deal on the view taken by his executors. As a publisher it would seem reasonable to me for the Trust to pay the printers bill and in return have the copyright made over to them. I do not think they ought to make themselves liable for any royalty in addition, which would merly mean paying twice over for the thing. If they declined to do this and preferred to pay the expenses then the Trust has nothing more to do with it, the exec'tr would make the best bargain they could with the publisher. I have always expected that if I had the publishing he would keep the matter in his own hands merely paying us the usual 10 percent commission on the sales for the use of our name and office. He might however ask us to pay the printer and make some arrangement by which we should have a share in the profits if any. I do not expect that the sale will be at all large for although his name is good the subject is one whichis not likely to attract many readers. I would certainly use your influence to get the book out as soon as possible. Do not let him wait for Horsley and Co. They may be a year yet. Yours very truly Ernest Bell Telegraphic Address, "BOHN, LONDON." G. BELL & SONS PUBLISHERS LONDON, 5 YORK STREET, CONVENT GARDEN, 12 Feb 1896 Dear Dr. Blackwell Mr. Salt does not take at all kindly to the scheme in its recent development. He says Sedder, of whom he has had some experience is "an inconceivably bad speaker and a fearful bore." If this is the case - and Mr. S. is always careful in his estimates - I think we had better avoid Prof. S. Mr. Salt thinks also that we had better not have an odd lecture or two but have a series during next autumn and winterThe League has still two more to complete its present series, --one next week and one in March. After that, between annual and May meetings and the fine weather it becomes difficult to get audiences together. Dr. A. Weall has worked many years for the London A V. Society. He is sound well-cut, I should say, exactly a strong man. Dr. Mccaulay has done good work but he is now old and would not undertake anything onerous. He appeared in last month's Animah Friend. Mark Thornhill is an ex-judge from India, very careful and accurate but also a very slow worker--not medical man. He lives at Folkestone. F. S. Arnold quite satisfactory in all ways I should think, if we could get him. The other points you raise must I think come before the comee. I shall probably see Mr. Parker this afternoon and will suggest his calling a meeting. [for the] Would the afternoon of the 10th do for you? In the evening is theHumanitarian League meeting at which I must be present. On the 19th is the Victoria W. Com. Could we meet after that say at 5 PM in the room we had before in Vic. St. I do not think we can well force Dr Richardson to do either one or the other but we may send him some sort of resolution to stir him up. Yours truly Ernest Bell 3 Mar 1896 Dear Dr. Blackwell I saw Sir B. W. R yesterday--(and got away in 63 minutes). He said he would send all the proofs back to the printers that afternoon and we could publish the book without any more delay. We are to pay the printers bill and have the first 2000 copies to recoup ourselves. After that he wants a royalty. This arrangement would be reasonable enough if it were a 51 book but I suppose we had better give up all idea of getting back that 100 and keep the book cheap say 2/6 net, which will pay the printing etc and leave a margin for advertising and giving away copies. I think we must be thankful if we get it at all. He evidently is rather afraid to launch it. Yours very truly Ernest BellDr. E. Blackwell Rock House HastingsFROM GEORGE BELL & SONS, YORK STREET COVENT GARDEN, LONDON, W.C. The title is to be "Biological Experimentation its Function and Limit", with some reference to the questions propounded by the L-B-T. (I forget the exact wording of the latter part but the Trust is named conspicuously). It seemed to me quite satisfactory. He did not want to see the proof again he said. He was keen about the other idea but seems to me to be growing feeble. (Ernest Bell) EB.[*not to be returned. E.B.*] Telegraphic Address, "Bohn, London." G BELL & SONS PUBLISHERS London, 5 York Street, Covent Garden, 7. May 1896 Dear Dr. Blackwell At the League com'ee Mr. Salt and I were duly elected on the joint com'ee. The idea and plan of the lectures was accepted in all points. The only suggestion made was that it was a pity that we had no woman among all the proposed speakers and Dr. Sophie Bryant was mentioned as a suitableperson. If you think well of the idea she might be sounded in case any of the others fall thro' or we might put on an additional lecture. The League will not object. I send you prospectuses herewith. The type of Biol Exp.n is standing and have asked Mrs. Browne how many copies she wants of pp 124-30 Yours truly Ernest Bell1896 Ernest W. Bell July 18 to Miss Leigh Browne re E.Carpenter's "Towards Democracy". & other [lecture] books & the lecture for the LBTrFor counter use only Book No. Amount $ Received from MALDEN SAVINGS BANK Please write amount in words Signature of Depositor Present Address Please do not write in space below Paid by Check Paid by Cash No Payment Made Without Passbook MURAN BOSTON Telegraphic Address "Bohn, London." G. Bell & Sons Publishers London, 5 York Street, Covent Garden, 18 July 1896 Dear Miss Browne I have read E Carpenter's 'Towards Democracy' and various essays of his and cannot remember that there was anything about them which could be objected to, though the 'Democracy' is certainly a peculiar book and while those who have the key to his mind find it as full of poetry as the Psalms, others, who are out of sympathy wonderWhat on earth it all means. His essays I think are always very clear and sound. I have not seen the "Love's Coming of Age" but have read reviews in the Academy and elsewhere which seemed to find merit in it. It is of course not a book to put in the hands of anyone but as a philosophic contribution to an eternal question it seems to be give satisfaction to those for whom it is meant. He appeals to rather [*?*] a select few in his philosophic productions and I should think the character of this particular book whatever it may be, need hardly affect his lecture for us, which will be [of] on a totally different subject and will not touch at all on the unpleasant sex question. The man himself seems to be respected by all who know anything about him. Believe me Yours truly Ernest BellTelegraphic Address, "Bohn, London." G. BELL & SONS PUBLISHERS London, 5 York Street, Covent Garden, Aug 2 1896 Dear. Dr Blackwell As far as we have means of judging Dr. Creighton's research seems to be exactly the kind of thing the Trust exists to encourage. I like too the tone of his letter and I think he is a man, whom we might with advantage attach to and interest in the Trust's work. With me it would therefore be only a question of the amount of money to be spent on the undertaking and I should not think we ought to exceed [more than] agremt of £50 for each volume.If you could arrange for anything less it would of course be a good thing. How for that amount will be an inducement must depend on the sort of book he has contemplated, and the arrangement he is able to make with his publisher. A book of this special sort would probably have the best chance with a special medical publisher but I much doubt whether any publisher would take any risk in the publication, as the sale must necessarily be confined to a small circle and the book could hardly be expected to repay its costs. One would like to know how he thought of getting it published before he heard of the Trust. Did he expect some publisher to take it or did he mean to print at his own expense? I would recommend that it should be brought out cheaply with paper cover in the foreign style. Unless the 'plates' he mentions are elaborate or colored, ₤50 ought to go a long way towards paying for a volume of 150 pages in that style and should facilitate matters considerably. If we care to undertake more work of this sort would it not be well to have a form something after the manner of the enclosed drawn up and stipulatethat it shall be printed in the preliminary part of the books? Your very truly Ernest Bell I think we should ask that 10. copies shall be presented to the Trust. Telegraaphic Address. "BOHN, LONDON." G. BELL & SONS PUBLISHERS LONDON, 5 York Street, Covent Garden, 18 Nov 1896 Dear Dr Blackwell Just a note to let you know that the lecture went off very well and, as far as I have heard, gave great satisfaction on all sides. The room was well filled and there were about 30 on the gallery. I should think about 350 altogether. I saw in the audience Drs. Clarke Haughton and Duffield, and Rasmore Edwards & wife. Mr Olivierand Mrs Mallet took part in the discussion. At the end I made a little announcement of Prof Thomson, as you wished, and hoped we should have a good audience to welcome him to London. I hope you are feeling the benefit of the improved weather Yours very truly Ernest Bell Miss Annie was there but I had no chance to speak to her after the lecture. [*No reply needed.*]Telegraphic Address, "Bohn, London." G BELL & SONS PUBLISHERS London, 5 York Street, Covent Garden, 3 Jan 1897 Dear Dr Blackwell I do not think there can be the least harm in distributing the 'Light' leaflet at the next lecture. I see the Trust is not even mentioned on it, and the League can take the responsibility if anyone can object to so good and also absolutely harmless a comment on a lecture given under the auspices of the Trust. With regard to the proposed resignation from the com'ee, if it shoulddepend mainly on the connextion with the League I am inclined to think that it would be better not to encourage it, as it is rather a serious matter parting with a member so intimately connected with the Trust and I am always alive to the possibility that, even if this little difficulty is lived down, other points about the League may at any time be objected to by some members and we may find ourselves somewhat in the position of falling between 2 stools. You see the League takes in anyone, who will work for humane objects without asking any questions and I am afraid that if we begin to ask about other opinions our foundation would find many, political and otherwise, with which she would have little sympathy and so probably, with other members. For this reason, though I have rejoiced at the union of the Trust and League I have always felt it safest to regard it as temporary and I hardly think the Trust would be well advisedto risk anything vital in order to maintain it. If on the other hand the resignation is to be on more general ground the case is of course different. I have not been able to think of anyone in the least likely to fill a gap usefully, but you know the leading women so much better than I do that it is not to be expected that I should I enclose Dr. Creighton's letters Yours very truly Ernest Bell Telegraphic Address, "BOHN, LONDON." G. BELL & SONS PUBLISHERS LONDON, 5 York Street, Covent Garden, 22 Feb 1897 Dear Dr. Blackwell This seems promising. When you see him you might mention that there would be no objection of course to his publishing the same afterword as a magazine article. The chance of a double fee might have some influence with him. I think his standing in the profession is good and is not his work on the throat the standard one? Yours very truly Ernest Bell.5 York Street, Covent Garden, 16 Feb. 1898 Dear Dr. Blackwell Just a line to ask you to call in the morning whether tomorrow or Friday as I shall be uncertain in the afternoon. Yours very truly Ernest Bell 5 York Street, Covent Garden, 21 Feb 1898 Dear Dr. Blackwell I have seen Mr. Sharpe today. He does not see that we can have 'Honorary Trustees' seeing that we all are 'Honorary'. To elect new members he does not think it necessary to call a meeting if all the members agree. The important matter is to draw up a short deed which all the trustees must sign. One disadvantage in Miss Browne's resigning is that the investments are all in her name om thebanking account and there will be trouble in transferring them to someone else when we have decided who that has to be. It seems also that we cannot well get out of the stipulation that the male and female trustees shall be equal in number. So we still have difficulties to overcome. I will get your Report in type. Mr. Sharpe's part has not come yet, but he says he will see to it now. Believe me Yours very truly Ernest BellBell Telegraphic Address—"BOHN, LONDON." G. BELL & SONS. PUBLISHERS. 5, York Street, Covent Garden, LONDON, 7th March 1902. W.C. Dear Dr Blackwell, I have been a good deal "rushed" since Tuesday, with a committee each day and engagements in the evening or I should have written sooner as I ought to have to let you know that at our Trust meeting your resignation was formally and with much regret accepted. I was asked also to convey to you from my co-trustees a hearty vote of thanks and an expression of our appreciation of the work you have done for the Trust during what we found to be a period of almost eighteen years. As we did not like your connection to be wholly severed from the Trust we elected you, on the motion of Mr Sharpe, seconded by Mr Pirkis, to the position of Honorary Adviser, so you may still hear from us occasionally. Dr Appel was duly elected in your place and attended the meeting immediately after her election and seems likely to be a useful member. After the meeting she handed me the "copy" for your two volumes of Collected Essays and they have gone on to the printers. Believe me, Yours very truly, Ernest-Bell