1529. Charles Welford to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 8, 198–199.
29 Mount St
February 12th [1844] [1]
Dear Madam
A temporary absence from town has hitherto prevented me from acknowledging the receipt of your kind note– I hope you will believe me when I say that the regret with which I have heard of your present delicate state of health is unmingled with any selfish feelings at my own disappointment on not seeing you & I fervently hope that you may derive the expected benefit from the “skyey influences” [2] of the returning spring & summer,–
Circumstances have led me to feel what I may almost call a paternal interest in your American fame. I can indeed without presumption claim to be the medium through which it originated[.] The volume of your poems that I took back with me on returning from England about 5 years since was at that time the only copy that had found its way to the United States within my knowledge, & the precious tome (now well nigh outworn) has been handed about a relic of such price that I know of one instance in which a Gentleman copied off the entire volume[.] I merely mention this to show that in introducing me to you Mr Matthews has but returned the favour that I originally conferred on him. I presume my Friend has acquainted you with his late exertions on behalf of an International Copyright law [3] —he has taken up the subject with his characteristic energy & vigour & deserves the thanks of all literary men whether successful or not—, but I have great hopes that the time is approaching when “the common sense of man” [results] in the obvious policy of honesty & justice.
Your kindness induces me to trouble you with an inquiry,—I do not know whether you are aware of the intense personal interest that is felt towards a favourite or popular author in America—it differs both in kind & degree from any thing that exists in older countries, it arises in part no doubt from the universal diffusion of Books & the fact that in solitudes & thinly settled parts they are often the only companions of young & rising intellects cut off from congenial society & thus grow to a portion of their very life & being, I know of no Writer for whom this kind of sympathy is more deeply exerted than for Tennyson, & it would tire me to recollect all the injunctions that I had to “find out something about him” from a multitude of friends when they heard I was coming to England,—I remember that in a Magazine paper Leigh Hunt once called you his cousin, [4] & though possibly the relationship intended was only a poetic one it has led me to associate in some measure your name with his & to imagine that you might be able to inform me who, what, & where he is,—I am afraid you will think that even the acknowledged interrogative propensities of my countrymen are hardly sufficient excuse for making this request, but I throw myself on your kind consideration & Remain Dr Madam
Most faithfully yours
Charles Welford
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. This is in response to letter 1518.
2. Measure for Measure, III, 1, 9.
3. See Mathews’s letter (no. 1405).
4. In “The Feast of Violets” Hunt wrote, in relation to EBB, “I took her at first for a sister of Tennyson” (see SD825.1).
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