Reform Club, Pall Mall, S. W.,
11th February, 1909.
Dear Sirs:
I am gratified to learn from Messrs. Methuen & Co. that they have arranged with you to bring out the authorised edition of Oscar Wilde's Works. It has been a matter of great distress to me that owing to traditional English carelessness the copyrights of some of Wilde's works should be vitiated in the United States of America, and that Wilde's children are unable to benefit by the sale of the unauthorised editions.
In this version which you are issuing the case is happily different and I cannot do more than express a hope that the American admirers of Oscar Wilde will show their admiration in a practical way by obtaining his works from yourselves in preference to any other publisher.
Since the English complete edition was issued I have discovered two other little poems in the possession of a friend: both of which are unpublished. I have much pleasure in sending them to you, as you may be able to incorporate them in your forthcoming volume of the poems, of which they will thus form a unique feature.
I trust that the American laws relating to copyright will enable you to protect the fledgings from being plucked by the publishers of unauthorized editions.
Believe me, Dear Sirs,
Yours very truly,
Robert Ross.
Messrs. John Luce & Co.,
143 Federal Street,
Boston, Mass., U. S. A.
