Gentlemen,—In the spring of the year 1803 a MS. novel in two vols., entitled Susan, was sold to you by a gentleman of the name of Seymour, and the purchase money £10 recd. at the same time. Six years have since passed, and this work, of which I am myself the Authoress, has never to the best of my knowledge appeared in print, tho' an early publication was stipulated for at the time of sale. I can only account for such an extraordinary circumstance by supposing the MS. by some carelessness to have been lost, and if that was the case am willing to supply you with another copy, if you are disposed to avail yourselves of it, and will engage for no farther delay when it comes into your hands. It will not be in my power from particular circumstances to command this copy before the month of August, but then if you accept my proposal you may depend on receiving it. Be so good as to send me a line in answer as soon as possible as my stay in this place will not exceed a few days. Should no notice be taken of this address, I shall feel myself at liberty to secure the publication of my work by applying elsewhere. I am, Gentlemen, etc., etc., M. A. D. Direct to Mrs. Ashton Dennis, Post Office, Southampton April 5, 1809.
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Asking Crosby to publish Susan
Six years after selling Susan for £10, Jane asks the London publisher Crosby & Co. why it has not appeared. She uses the name Mrs. Ashton Dennis. Richard Crosby disputes her claim that early publication was promised and offers to return the manuscript for the original price. Susan was the earlier title of Northanger Abbey, not the separate story Lady Susan. These letters do not record a completed buy-back: that came later, and the novel appeared after Jane’s death, in December 1817 with an 1818 title page. The printed exchange preserves both sides of the disagreement.
Mrs. Ashton Dennis is the name used for this approach, signed M. A. D. Susan is the novel later published as Northanger Abbey, not Lady Susan. The next reading is Crosby’s reply.
Source: Life and Letters (1913), p. 230.
Madam,—We have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th inst. It is true that at the time mentioned we purchased of Mr. Seymour a MS. novel entitled Susan, and paid him for it the sum of £10, for which we have his stamped receipt, as a full consideration, but there was not any time stipulated for its publication, neither are we bound to publish it. Should you or anyone else [publish it] we shall take proceedings to stop the sale. The MS. shall be yours for the same as we paid for it. For Crosby & Co. I am yours, etc. Richard Crosby.
This is the reply preserved with Austen’s request of 5 April 1809, acknowledging her letter of the “5th inst.” April is inferred for placement; no exact reply day is asserted.
Source: Life and Letters (1913), p. 231.