Pièce 20 - Letter from Gibson Craig, Dalziel and Brodies to Ellis & Ellis

Edinburgh. - Have received yesterday's letter and the copy correspondence accompanying it. Sets out how Scottish law seems to differ from English in respect to copyright, with an extended quotation from George Joseph Bell's Commentaries. They have made enquiries and believe that Edmonston & Douglas are Napier's publishers, and that they are currently communicating with their printers 'with a view to publishing some of the letters [by Lord Macaulay] in question]. To prevent this, 'the legal remedy afforded by our Courts is an Interdict against the Publishers'; 'distinct particulars of the letters in question' are requested in case this course must be taken.

Before taking any definite action, they wish to 'lay the whole matter before some good counsel here, such as Mr [John?] Balfour. They will watch for advertisements put out by Napier.