Frederick Douglass Richard D. Webb, April 20, 1846
Glasgow 20 –
April 1846
Dear Friend—I do not understand your account. In a letter to me dated jan. 5th. you stated my indebtedness to you as being £27-10, 10-pence. This (you added) pays for every thing connected with the (first) edition of 2-000 - except the forwarding of parcels." You also informed me that you had received, £6-00 from Bristol, I then sent you a draft for £21,00 which you acknowledged, This I suppose would settle all on the score of the first edition—except forwarding Parcels, In your last a part of the old account is brought over, a part kept
back And the accounts of the New Edition is so mixed up with the old—that I can not understand it. I have all of your letters acknowledging the reciept of Sums which have come into your hands from the sale of my Book.—and in counting them over with my friend Mr. Caird, I find they amount to £1,15—while the first edition was not to cost me over £96 with the Portrait, Beleiving there are mistakes—and errors in the account of tenth April, I prefer to have a connected Statement—of all the Books which you have disposed of—To whom they were sent—how many have been
paid for—and how many yet remain to be paid for. an how many of the last 1000 you ha[ve] I deem this necess to a proper understanding and settlement, I am anxcious to know this as soon as possible—for I know not how soon I may be summoned home—my family are all unwell.
Please address me as useual care of Mr. Smeal, kind regards to Mrs. Webb.
Yours truly
F Douglass.
Please write the account as plain as possible—I have not learned yet to read your hand with ease. F. D.