2704. Mary Russell Mitford to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 14, 314–315.
[Three Mile Cross]
[Postmark: 2 October 1847]
<***> few books. The most interesting that I have <r>ead for many years is Lamartine’s Histoire des Girondins. [1] Do read that. Even at the Palace where they read so little they are all devouring those eloquent Volumes—the Queen & all. I would not have believed that Lamartine’s prose could be so fine—but the prose of poets is often finer than their verse—witness Southey & Scott & Dryden– Do read that splendid work. The Author does injustice to Napoleon I think, & is over candid to Robespierre & many of the other Revolutionary Heroes—so that one wonders sometimes who was guilty—but still the book is charming.— Also I am reading Appert’s Dix Ans à la Cour de Louis Philippe, [2] very pleasant esprit—& I have just finished Le Chien d’Alcibiade—a Tale of some cleverness although too close an imitation of Gerfaut. [3] It is wonderful how much the French novelists leave our’s at a distance especially as to character. In Martin there is a physician who is charming, & much vividness & power—but the conclusion is unsatisfactory & altogether it is a falling off. Tell me if you hear of anything new by George Sand or Balzac or Eugène Sue or Victor Hugo—or any good French books. I see by the papers that poor Frederic Soulié is dead– [4] I was just reading a novel of his on the wars of La Vendée (Saturnine Fichet) which was interesting—only he had imitated a likeness between two persons from the old French Story of Martin Guerre, which story aforesaid—the actual story & name—Dumas had been using in Les Deux Diane—by the way I am reading 3 series by Dumas, Les Deux Diane—Les Memoires d’un Medecin & Le Batard de Mouléon & I believe there are two or three other works of the same sort besides– [5] Of English books I have been much pleased by Mr Jesse[’]s Antiquities of London—very pleasant gossip—& St John[’]s Wild sports of the Highlands a mixed Vol of Deerstalking & Natural History which is charming– [6] Did I tell you of an article highly & justly praiseful of your poetry by Mr Gilfillan in Tait’s Magazine, [7] <& of> a very charming mention both of you & Mr Brow<ning> in some letters to Mr Dickens upon Italy by some His<torian,> which had appeared in The Daily News & have been sep<arately printed> in a Volume.– [8] What are you about dear <…> every thing for me to Mr Browning & believe me
ever most faithfully yours
M R M
Address, on integral page: La Signora Browning / Poste Restante / Firenze / Toscana / [and at left, below] Florence / Tuscany / Italy.
Docket, in EBB’s hand: Miss Mitford’s / autograph.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Alphonse Lamartine’s historical work appeared in March 1847.
2. Dix Ans à la cour du roi Louis-Philippe et souvenirs du temps de l’Empire et de la Restauration (1846) by Benjamin Nicolas Marie Appert (1797–1847).
3. A novel by Charles de Bernard, published in 1838; see letter 1650, note 3. La Queue du chien d’Alcibiade (1847) was a two-act comedy by Balzac’s friend Léon Gozlan.
4. Frederic Soulié died on 23 September 1847.
5. La Bâtard de Mauléon, a collaborative work with Auguste Maquet, was published in 1846; Les Deux Diane was an historical romance that appeared from 1846 to 1847; and Mémoires d’un Médicin: Joseph Balsamo appeared as a feuilleton from 1846 to 1848.
6. Short Sketches of the Wild Sports and Natural History of the Highlands (1846) by Charles Saint John and Literary and Historical Memorials of London (2 vols., 1847) by J. Heneage Jesse.
7. In Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine for September 1847, pp. 620–625; the author of the article was George Gilfillan (1813–78). For the complete text, see pp. 380–385.
8. Facts & Figures from Italy. By Don Jeremy Savonarola, Benedictine Monk, Addressed during the last two winters to Charles Dickens, Esq. (1847). Don Jeremy Savonarola was a pseudonym for Francis Sylvester Mahony, who also wrote under the pseudonym of Father Prout. The letter, dated “Rome, June 18 [1847],” contained a footnote by Mahony that “Browning and his newly-married wife, the gifted Elizabeth Barrett, have been wandering in Italy. May we look on the poetic couple as par poetarum ‘mox daturos,’ (if possible) Progenium meliùs canentum!” (p. 295). This footnote did not appear in the version of the letter as it originally appeared in The Daily News of 30 June 1847.
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