|
Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Official Receiver
18 March [1935]
You asked for an account of the circumstances which have led to my temporary insolvency. Some of them may have appeared almost incredible. Last week occurred a characteristic incident which I hope you will investigate as it confirms my statements in every detail.
Some three weeks ago I was asked by the Literary Editor of the Sunday Referee to contribute a series of articles describing my life work. We had a conference with the Editor, Mr. Mark Goulden, who spontaneously offered me the maximum rate ever paid by the paper. I submitted a synopsis of 8 articles, which was approved, and the price of the first article handed to me in advance. I was to write this series at Brighton, for the sake of health and quiet. I was to bring the second article on Tuesday March 12th, which I did; the Literary Editor accepted it as "very good indeed" and asked me to call for my money in the morning, as in any case I was staying the night in London. But the first article [My Wanderings in Search of the Absolute, 10 March 1935] had appeared. My enemies struck immediately.
Then began various manoeuvres, culminating on Friday last with the anonymous outsider who had 'put pressure' on Mr. Isidore Ostrer, the proprietor of this paper. I was thus cut off from food, shelter, clothes, everything, at a single stroke. This is merely the latest incident in the campaign to destroy me; as soon as these cowardly blackguards are exposed, I shall be in a position to satisfy all legitimate claims against me. May I ask your cooperation.
|