My dear John,

         I did not expect you to understand more than (what you call) the "outcome" of my mathematical paper. I thought, while I was about it, I might as well add the definitions of the ω cCx ρ involved, in case of your some day handing it to a mathematician acquainted with the basis of the theory. But to you I merely thought to give the "coup d'oeil" of such series as

which to this day I am not aware to be known to others. (The denominators increase with enormous rapidity.)

        But I must say a word as to your kind thought of aiding me with money to print. [ . . . ]^*, I deserve no compassion. I am insatiable in a desire to print. I have loads "in ambush." Every year my printer's bill is double of what comes in by sales. At this moment I am insane enough to be printing a 2nd ed. of my Iliad, revised. I began last summer, thinking to get it into the market by the end of 1871, and that by that time the market would be empty. The fuss for Lord Derby is quite gone off, and ever since I brought out my Iliad there had been such a stream of translations, that when it ceased, I thought we were going to have a lull. But, lo! in November, out comes a new one from Mr. Charles Merivale! As if were all insane. I had already 3 or 4 sheets through the press. And as I had spent all my pains on revision, in years past, on the whole I thought I would let it take its chance. My printer works whenever his business is slack, and so does it rather cheaper. (I print now handsomely, a small edition, in royal octavo, giving me a broad page for a long line.)—Well: that is one thing. But I am also at work to print my Arabic Dictionary (the printer has actually begun), to do which I had raised a little fund; and till a week ago counted myself quite rich. But lo! on Friday last I suddenly received the offer to take new shares in an American rail, a highly prosperous concern, & to me a chief source of wealth. If I resist this year, I cannot get them next year. If I live, I am the richer for taking them; & on consulting Maria, I found she wished it. But to pay for them will leave me very hard up in the last quarter of this year. I wrote with but half a heart to take them last Saturday; and now have all the sense of being a poor man, who must economize and may not give away! I begin to doubt of my own act. I can, no doubt, if necessary, borrow from my banker (i.e., get leave to overdraw) for a couple of months: & I am not sure that that will be needed, if I act stingily this summer,—which is abstractedly undesirable. But as I read in your letter, & in your manner the other day, that it would be a positive pleasure to you to do me a pecuniary service, if you can, I think it worth while to ask, whether, if I need it, you would be able to advance (say) £100 to me for about ten weeks at the end of the year. I do not know how the exchanges are & will be, & cannot at all exactly calculate what I shall have to pay.

         Now I ask the question in perfect frankness, from the conviction that you will with equal frankness tell me, if I overestimate your wealth & your powers. You must also understand that if I lay aside bashfulness and ask my banker to lend me money, he is not likely to refuse, for so short a time. To ask is disagreeable to me, chiefly because it is new: the very reason which may make it easy to him to assent.—I somehow have got constantly richer, little by little, from our always living below income. If I live, I suppose I shall sooner or later be able to print every thing that I have which can deserve printing.

I am your affectionate brother,    
Francis W. Newman      

    [*Two illegible words.—T. E. Jones.]