"Three months later the printing was finished, and early in September the proofs began to come to hand. We were both away from London when I received this missive:-- _Translation._ GALE HOUSE, LAKE ROAD, AMBLESIDE, WESTMORELAND, _September_ 7. MY DEAR FRIEND,--Are you in town? I have been working _like a little nigger_ correcting, transposing, suppressing, &c., the proofs. I will send you my first corrected proof, and will you please forward it to Ascherberg for the printers? but I do not wish to do this until I know that you are in town.--Amitiés! M. GARCIA. "The question of a preface now came up. The maestro was somewhat averse to providing one, but ultimately he yielded to the desire of the publisher, who was naturally anxious that the 'Hints' should contain everything calculated to arouse attention. He wrote only a few lines, however, and I had to persuade him to add more. He also decided to include a reproduction of the well-known woodcut of himself using the laryngoscope by the light of an oil-lamp, and a couple of laryngoscopic mirrors (half-size), which by some mistake nearly came to being omitted. With the proofs he took infinite pains, and wrote me several notes about them, of which the following deserve quotation:-- _Translation._ DEAR FRIEND,--Among some corrections which I have been making at the printer's, I have eliminated pages Nos.---- (I have forgotten the numbers). I asked to see the whole of the proofs, and they have sent me only those which were uncorrected. If I can get them immediately (the newly-corrected lot) you will doubtless have the whole set without delay. In the preface they have taken out the two little mirrors: now one--the smaller--would be necessary, and sufficient to explain the laryngoscope. As to the preface, I will see what I can add. It seems to me, if I am not mistaken, that Mr Ascherberg has the intention of adding an editorial preface to the work, with the idea of increasing the sale. That, I think, would be a mistake. Praise, if the book merits it, must come from without, unless one wishes to turn it into blame. Send me, not those proofs which I have, but the corrected pages, including those in which I have corrected the accompaniments, and the whole shall be returned to you without delay. We shall be back again on the 18th (September), and if you care to come to me on the 19th we will prepare the index.--Bien à vous, M. GARCIA. "By the middle of October the work was complete and ready for the press. However, a delay occurred, in consequence of the necessity for waiting until an American edition had been printed and published in accordance with copyright requirements. The dear old master grew a trifle impatient, although he knew the cause:-- _Translation._