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Correspondence from George MacNie Cowie to Aleister Crowley
14 Glenisla Gardens, Edinburgh.
[Undated: circa 1913?]
Care Frater.
The money turned up all right at the end of March after you had left Tunis and I had no address. The balance of the 500 is lodged in the bank ready for you, but should lie if possible till April 30 as that will bring a month's interest. If you come to Edinburgh we can make out post dated cheques to the various debtors and I feel strongly that you should trust to no more Great Victorias [Vittoria Cremers] in such a matter again, but see it done direct. Victoria [Cremers] it appears was only carrying out the decrees of destiny in abusing and robbing 'the native' unlucky enough to have Mars in his 6th according to 'Raphael'. That same person assures me what I knew already, that I don't come out top dog when I start Shylocking. This is so clear that I'd never dream of lending the money in ordinary course.
It's just that the case of Shylock Wegg has been judged by F[iat] P[ax] who considers that a few years of possible ill luck for Wegg are of no consequence when weighed against the possible retarding of a Work that promises so much for the good of the race. Do you get the money, questionless. So long as I'm in employment, the interest is really of no moment, nevertheless if not forthcoming regularly I will lose the very thing desired—the feeling of having something certain coming in, should there be any trouble ahead of me which I have a strong feeling that there is, and that my instinct to provide against it was correct.
By the way, it turned out that the original Consols were bought at 93 and with the recent slight rise yield has been better by a hundred pounds, than I estimated. I want to use this latter to further secure the future and I would also like to have an understanding that there should be no further call on me for loans, as I feel I have done my share now. Better to help out of income. Also there are other things than the A∴A∴ to be helped, and its not so much the fear of the loss of my own bread and butter as of the ability to put butter sometimes on the very dry bread of others that harasses me. I'm not able to do so much of this as I used to, when I'm cripples myself. However we'll hope for luck in the near future and then all will be plain sailing.
Well when your letters came on your leaving Tunis, I thought it hideous that a man of your gifts and power should have to want to do hack work for publishers. Nevertheless, having the opportunity, and as the idea is a practical one, I mentioned the matter the same day to Mr Nelson. The idea is no new one but he said the difficulty is that French writers of prominence always sell their English rights on publication, and in certain cases they (the firm) have the arrangement for the refusal of these. The only one we have done yet seems to be Poincares 'Science and Method'. This would have suited you I think. If you have any special book to definitely propose translating the firm would consider it, but you should make sure of the 'rights' being available. There is more likelihood of employment at translating English into French e.g. we are doing a French edition of 'Little Lord Fauntleroy'.
Sadler is not with us, left 2 years ago, he works for Dents I think, who are running a translation series. It might be worth trying him with this idea only (though I don't know him personally) he has a fixed idea that no one is any good at translation but himself, and I can't just fancy you going to him and insinuating that though you cannot hold a damn candle to him you'd be much obliged for a little translation work. Oh damnit, I don't like the idea of you having to beg for hack work or of your endurance being tried to this extent, however philosophically you take it. It must be I, will do all I can to help, but the idea of one novel per mendem doesn't seem likely.
We may regard the Sir B.S. incident as closed now. Please do not refer to it in any way if you are in Edinburgh. I did as I proposed, and had the matter out with the firm, on general lines, but I don't know that I did myself any good by it. Having done what is possible I go on. Sir B.S. does not come in unless in the firm's absence I think it will not occur again.
As mentioned in my note I've been rather run down for a week. Banquo or something hath murdered sleep, and it's a thing the absence of which quickly knocks me all up. Got natural sleep last night and feel a different man today.
Did I tell you of the fate of my recent experiment in housekeepers? She only lasted 8 days. Drink! and came with a fine character from a man with a shop in Princes Street. I expect I've landed myself with another, but a very promising one this trip. It's too difficult getting along by myself, in spite of advantages and it does waste a lot of time. Must run now for the afternoon post. See you on Tuesday evening.
F[iat] P[ax]
I got with great difficulty a copy of the Occult Review and saw your letter. Now I see what Mrs Kirdcudbrightshire was driving at!
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