Correspondence

1587.  EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 8, 286–287.

[London]

April 1. 1844.

My very dear friend,

Your kind letter I was delighted to receive. You mistake a good deal the capacities in judgement, of “the man.” [1] The “man” is highly refined in his tastes; and leaning to the classical, .. (I was going to say to your classical, .. only suddenly I thought of Ossian, ..) a good deal more than I do. He has written satires in the manner of Pope,—which admirers of Pope have praised warmly & deservedly. If I had hesitated about the conclusiveness of his judgements, it would have been because of his confessed indisposition towards subjects religious, & ways mystical,—& his occasional insufficient indulgence for rhymes & rhythms which he calls “Barrettian”. But these things render his favorable inclination towards my “Drama of Exile,” still more encouraging (as you will see) to my hopes for it.

Still, I do tremble a good deal inwardly, when I come to think of what your own thoughts of my poem, & poems in their two-volume development, may finally be. I am afraid of you. You will tell me the truth as it appears to you,––upon that I may rely: and I should not wish you to suppress a single disastrous thought for the sake of the unpleasantness it may occasion to me. My own faith is, that I have made progress since the Seraphim—only it is too possible (as I confess to myself & you!) that your opinion may be exactly contrary to it.

You are very kind in what you say about wishing to have some conversation, as the medium of your information upon architecture, with Octavius,—Occy, .. as we call him. He is very much obliged to you, and proposes, .. if it shd not be inconvenient to you, .. to call upon you on friday, with Arabel, .. at about one o’clock. Friday is mentioned, .. because it is a holiday––no work being done at Mr Barry’s. [2] Otherwise he is engaged every day (except indeed sunday) from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon. May God bless you, dearest Mr Boyd. I am ever

your affecte

Elizabeth B Barrett.

Address: H S Boyd Esqr / 24 (a) Grove End Road / St John’s Wood.

Publication: LEBB, I, 173–174.

Manuscript: Wellesley College.

1. EBB’s comments in this paragraph relate to Kenyon.

2. Octavius Moulton-Barrett was studying under Charles Barry (1795–1860), the architect chosen to design the new Houses of Parliament.

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