.MTMzNw.MTEyNDkw

                                                                                                                            Hartford; Conn.  January 19  1883

Col. Richard J. Dodge

My Dear Sir:-

Your favor of the 7th reached me only this day. I presume it has been snowed in somewhere. I wrote your order. The books go forward today by mail, as desired. I am sorry they cannot reach you by the time you wish, but the delay has not been with me. I am sorry you cannot see your way clear to waive your interest in the copys sent of the book. I am not given to permission - at least I didn't know I was - & I have not painted the prospects of future sales in an unfavorable light to induce you to accede to the request I made. I merely stated the facts just as they were. The book has been out one year, & I have devoted my very best efforts, all my time, & spent no end of money, to make a good sale. The result is that something less than 20.00 copies have been sold. This has not paid me by any means. The book was a very expensive one to bring out. I put altogether too much money into the Enterprise, and fixed the price of the val too low. The book has certainly had everything in its favor, but the big sale has not been made. I do not know what more I can do now to increase the sale. Practically the sale is over - the (unclear) was clean gone some months ago. I see that you think, evidently, that