2 pembroke gardens, kensington. w.
April 11, 1876.
Dear Clemens,
I take it that my letter made that clear which my telegram did not—namely that we needed the pictures only & not letter press; and so am living in the hope that the plates of the pictures will have started about last Friday or Sat. & be here by the 20th. We all consider here that the cheap edition coming first would ruin the costly one, & the latter must come out first. But as the pictures cannot (unless you came to a different conclusion from your letter of 25th March) reach us before the 20th, we cannot get the book out here in time for you to publish it May 1st. So please delay, and I will telegraph you a date thus: “sixth” or “seventh” &c which will mean the date ‸ in May ‸ of publication here. You shd issue ‸at least‸ 24 hours later (a difference for which there may be technical reasons[).]
With warm remembrances to Mrs Clemens & no time to say more
Ever yours
M D Conway
Nothing could be gained by using your type plates over here
