Letter from Thomas Willis White to William Scott

Richmond, Aug. 5, 1836.

William Scott, Esq.

My Dear Sir:

I am in receipt of yours of the 3d inst. and have perused it with much pleasure.

Your paper of the 27th has not yet come to house. I however had borrowed a copy, from Mr. [Royale?]. Your notice of the "Messenger" is well and judiciously written. Your [ex?] is beautiful. If any thing, I should say you that you have praised the [July?] No. far above its deserts. Still if you spoke as you thought of it, I am sure I ought not to grumble. I asked your "candid" opinion - and you doubtless gave it. I am grateful to you for having done so.

I have had a great deal of sickness in my office, among my best hands, and since the 4th July. This has thrown me all in the [back?] ground again - and will prevent me from bringing out the Aug. No. earlier than the 20th. Nevertheless, I will on [underline]next Thursday[/underline], send you as many loose sheets of it as I may then have ready - and you may go to work on it in regular order (taking care to let no one else see the sheets) - cutting up every thing that may, in your opinion, merit such treatment - and on the other hand saying a good word in favor of all the articles which may merit eulogy. Fair play, is all I ask, - and, from your candid way of speaking, I am sure I shall [underline]that[/underline], at your hands.

You say, if you can make yourself of any service to me in your City, you would cheerfully do so. I do not know precisely what to say on this [head?].

Suppose, however, you call on W. W. [Luanden?], who proposed to act as my agent in New-York - and held some conversation with him on the subject. It would be particularly gratifying to me, just now, so [?] at any other time to receive about 100 paying subscribers from New-York. The push I have made with the Messenger has been a bold one - and it will require the 2000 you speak of to bring me [out?] whole again on the 3d [?].

I regularly mail the Messenger to your office - the June No. was directed by myself. I also sent you a perfect No. of the July one. This evening I shall send you a duplicate of the June; forwarding you at the same time all the Nos. as far as printed of the 2d Vol. for your own use. I shall likewise enter your name as a paid subsciber - and will, [underline]if possible[/underline], purchase you a copy of the 1st volume so soon as I can hear of one for sale. - For all of which I positively refuse to receive one cent in money. - Your labor - your time - is money - and I will not have the use of it without giving you some recompense - even if it is in sheets of my really [unpretending?] periodicals.

When you can find time, I hope you will carry out your intention - and add to the variety of my [columns?]. I am very certain that any thing you may attempt will be received by us - and by the public also with favor.

Your opinion of the "Mirror" is not an uncommon one. I see by the Compiler that the editor of a Natchez paper thinks with you also.

Respectfully, T. W. White.

{ round stamp that says "Richmond"}

William Scott, Esq. Office of "The [Mepenger ?]," New York.