The Letters Of Mark Twain, Complete


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To Mr. Chatto, of Chatto & Windus, in London:  
HARTFORD, Dec. 5, '87.  
MY DEAR CHATTO,--Look here, I don't mind paying the tax, but don't you  
let the Inland Revenue Office send me any more receipts for it, for the  
postage is something perfectly demoralizing. If they feel obliged to  
print a receipt on a horse-blanket, why don't they hire a ship and send  
it over at their own expense?  
Wasn't it good that they caught me out with an old book instead of a new  
one? The tax on a new book would bankrupt a body. It was my purpose to  
go to England next May and stay the rest of the year, but I've found  
that tax office out just in time. My new book would issue in March,  
and they would tax the sale in both countries. Come, we must get up a  
compromise somehow. You go and work in on the good side of those revenue  
people and get them to take the profits and give me the tax. Then I will  
come over and we will divide the swag and have a good time.  
I wish you to thank Mr. Christmas for me; but we won't resist. The  
country that allows me copyright has a right to tax me.  
Sincerely Yours  
715  


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