[Thomas Binney, Congregational minister known as the ‘Archbishop of Nonconformity’.] The first part only of an Autograph Letter, discussing his writing a preface for a work by ‘the blind eloquent American’ [William Henry Milburn].

See Binney’s entry in the Oxford DNB. 4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. The present item is only the first part of the letter, and hence unsigned, but the author is undoubtedly Binney (the text ends with a reference to ‘my preface to Dr Cheever’s “Incidents & Memories of the Christian Life,” published by Collins of Glasgow’). In good condition, lightly aged. Folded for postage. The recipient is not named, but the subject of the letter is a proposal for Binney to prepare for English publication a work by ‘the blind eloquent American’ (i.e. William Henry Milburn). The book in question is clearly the one published in New York in 1857 under the title ‘The Rifle, Axe, and Saddle-bags, and other Lectures by William Henry Milburn; with Introduction by J. McClintock.’ The letter begins: ‘My dear Sir / I looked through the first half of the book you sent me in sheets last night. It is a very striking work, & the little sketch of the author, in the introductory pages of Dr McClintock, adds very much to the interest of the volume.’ Binney is ‘quite disposed’ to meet the recipient’s wishes if he can, although he is ‘worried & busy with many things’, but he would ‘feel great pleasure in introducing the blind eloquent American to English readers. I must know, however, exactly what you want. - You say “prepare for English publication,” - I always think that we should take as few liberties as possible with any work we re-publish - I like the author’s work to go forth as much as possible in its integrity. Some one has already suggested one or two things in pencil; - I think one of the passages ought to be omitted, or modified, - but you will say what you mean by “preparing” &c -’. The text ends with a discussion of what exactly the recipient might want by way of preface, ending with the reference to Cheever quoted at the start of this entry. Milburn’s ‘Rifle, Axe, and Saddle-bags’ was not published in England, at least not under that title. Whether it is the same work that was published in 1859 as ‘Ten Years of Preacher-Work’ (without any contribution by Binney) is unclear. 1859 was also the year in which Milburn would visit England, ‘in company with Bishop Simpson and the Rev. D. McClintock, and delivered lectures in the principle cities to crowded audiences’ (Appleton’s ‘New American Cyclopaedia’, 1861).