1012. EBB to Mary Russell Mitford
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 84–85.
[London]
Monday. [?26] [September 1842] [1]
My beloved friend I will not step over a post (there’s a pretty phrase à propos des bottes! [2] & suggestive of graceful movements!) for the sake of the longer letter I might write tomorrow,—but assure you by the earliest opportunity that to do anything for you, must always prove to be the pleasantest thing I cd do for myself. So you see, I decide at once––yes. “Right”?– To be sure!– Why what can be righter than that I shd be of use [3] to you? I shall be delighted to play ‘Bijou’ to you, for the only time in my life!—and if your name is disgraced after all, you must take comfort in remembering that that is for the only time in your life. Unless perhaps, Mr Schloss, [4] looking to the name instead of to the verses, entreat you to go on in sæcula sæculorum, [5] & you carry your disgracer with you. For remember, my dearest friend—as long as you please to be Editor of almanacks or as long as almanacks are wanted, I belong to you, with every sort of service vowed to every sort of obedience, to the verge of power & possibility.
I promise & vow to attend to the directions,—& have a thought about making shorter lines even, than are absolutely necessary– The idea of the possibility of it occurred to me long ago, when I held between two fingers as a new year’s gift from Papa, this very same Bijou .. with a magnifying glass to make it legible,—& observed how the lines had to double like a hare, before they got to the rhyme. By the way, what an ingenious invention!—a book too small to be read! [6]
Will you tell me when you shall want my verses? They shall be with you as soon as you care to have them; so put the whole anxiety about Mr Schloss out of your head,—& be as happy with your friends, my dearest dearest Miss Mitford as your greater anxieties will suffer you to be. They come as you say ‘out of pure kindness’,—& a little social change may do good to your dear patient, .. & why not good also to your dear self? May God grant it prove so!–
When all is done & the proofs are sent, I shd be very glad to have a sight of them .. but not, if it cant be done privately & conveniently. Who is this German conjurer? [7] Mr Schloss’s subjects are unlucky– [8] Never mind! I am not so, if I can serve you, .. tho’ literally in a little thing. [9] <***>
Publication: EBB-MRM, II, 33–34.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. This letter precedes 1013, in which EBB says she has not yet started to write the verses which Miss Mitford had requested (see note 3).
2. “About nothing; irrelevant.”
3. For emphasis, EBB printed the word “use.” Miss Mitford had accepted the editorship of Schloss’s English Bijou Almanac, but her father’s condition caused her to ask EBB to compose the required verses, even though they would appear over Miss Mitford’s name.
4. Albert Schloss (1804–71) was the publisher of a miniature annual, commenced in 1836; each number contained a calendar, details of the Royal family and principal household staff and of other European sovereigns, and portraits of current celebrities accompanied by laudatory verses.
5. “Unto the age of ages”; i.e., without end.
6. The book was too small (approx. 2.2 × 2.9 cm.) to be read without the aid of a magnifying glass.
7. Ludwig Leopold Döbler (1801–64), a magician, was giving a series of performances in England, including one at Windsor Castle for the entertainment of the Queen and Prince Albert. The Morning Chronicle of 13 April 1842, in a notice of Herr Döbler’s performance at St. James’s Theatre, said “Albumazar has revisited the earth in the mortal shape of Herr Louis Dobler; and henceforth all minor magicians must hide their diminished heads.” He was to be one of the subjects of the 1843 Almanac.
8. i.e., in being treated in verse by EBB rather than by Miss Mitford.
9. A punning reference to the size of the Almanac.
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