Dato: 1847
Fra: Charles Boner   Til: H.C. Andersen
Sprog: engelsk.

St. Emeran, Ratisbon, Bavaria.

My dear Sir,

It is now a year since I wrote to you for the first time, begging you to let me know if I might forward you a copy of your own exquisite Tales, which, I am proud to say, I had the pleasure of making known to my countrymen. It is always very gratifying to be instrumental in disseminating what is good and beautiful; the doing so, too, is its own reward - the sufficient reward. In this instance, however, an additional recompense has not been wanting; for my, or rather your, book, is very popular in England, read and delighted in by all. In a letter which I received from London some weeks ago, a friend writes: "Lady Lyndhurst told me the other day that his Lordship has enjoyed the book more than any he has read for years, and that he talks of it everywhere, and all literary people are much delighted with it."

I yesterday sent a copy to professor Wolff, at Jena, begging him to forward it to you as soon as possible. He was good enough to give me your address, so that I hope this, my third letter, may reach your hands. My first I sent to Berlin at the time of your visit there; and I took the liberty of begging, that if you passed this way, I might be allowed to have the pleasure of making your acquaintanee. They are few things I wish more than to shake hands with you and to express the delight which your works have given me. Whatever I may have done to make your name a familiar word in England has been to me as a token of love.

I saw some time ago in The Literary Gazette - with which I am connected, furnishing those articles on "Germany" and German Literature which you may perhaps have read - that you intend to visit England this year - I also think of going, as some literary undertakings will make my presence in London almost indispensable. How happy I should be if I could join you on the road, so that we might make the journey together! Would you let me know when you think of going, and the route you intend to take? My friend Jerdan, the Editor of the Literary Gazette, would be most glad if his hopes of meeting you were to be realized.

Excuse the freedom with which I write, but it is impossible for me to address you as a stranger, but rather as a friend whom I have long known, and towards whom I am drawn by those feelings of sympathy which similar struggles and similar pursuits are ever sure to call forth.

Always, dear Sir, Very faithfully Yours,

Carles Boner

c

My second letter to you I requested M. de Pechlin, the Danish Minister at Frankfurth, to forward to Copenhagen, when a packet should next leave the Embassy

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