Correspondence

2908.  Edward Lombe to RB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 17, 15–16.

V. N.

March 23. [1851] [1]

My dear Sir.

Many thanks for the perusal of Carlyle’s Letter—quite true & himself throughout– If I had once got him into correspondence—I d’ont think that I should have let him escape. However you go to England in Autumn & will see him in person—if you think of it then—I shd be greatly obliged to have a few lines from you to know how he is—whether he is likely to wander as far as the Villa Normanby—or whether he is likely to toss anything at the head of the Westminster [2]  .. “there dogs take that—& make much of it”.

I am vexed that Kirkup does not understand him or rather quite mis-understands him– But it is his own fault—being an Artist, too he ought to feel how grandly artistic are some of his most magnificent sayings. He finds a great deal of rubbish—& grovels in it—but cannot discover the Diamonds. He forgets that Diamonds are found only in detritus—& nowhere else—the poor man grubs in a dust heap for a bone—& he will not turn over a little sand & gravel—to fall upon a Koh-i-noor. [3] I send you his remarks on “Stealing” [4] —he does not see that Carlyle merely means to say in bitterness that nearly all men are thieves—Lords—Commoners—flatterers—lawyers—doctors—& all—& so they are. Yet poor K. blunders over what is so obvious—pray burn his precious scrawl—it is all darkness & no chance of light.

I shall be most happy to have the honor of seeing Mr Greenow in the way you so kindly mention—had I known his address, I wd have done myself the honor of anticipating him—& so “shake hands with America—& try for a Commonwealth.”

Yours very sincerely

Edward Lombe.

R. Browning Esq.

Publication: BBIS-8, p. 50 (as [ca. 1870]).

Docket, in RB’s hand: Letters illustrating a letter and other matters referred to in the Correspondence of Carlyle. RB.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Year provided by Lombe’s references to Carlyle and Greenough, both of whom are mentioned in letter 2906.

2. i.e., The Westminster Review, of which Lombe was a financial supporter.

3. A 109-carat diamond that was added to the crown jewels when the Punjab was annexed in 1849. It was a featured attraction in the Great Exhibition.

4. Untraced; presumably RB destroyed this document as Lombe requested.

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