320. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 167–169.
Hope End.
Friday. [26–27 September 1828] [1]
My dear Sir
As you desired me to let you know the result of the London plan, I will not delay doing so. Mama has determined upon not going at present,—for tho’ she was referred to her own judgment, yet,—the comparative deprivation of air & exercise during the fine weather, & the positive & necessary deprivation of the society of her children, being reasonably dwelt upon,—she cannot keep to her first resolve. Her present one pleases & satisfies me, selfish feelings apart. For the last few days she has been comfortable. This is all we can expect just now, & we must thank God for this!–
I so much out-staid the Berkleian idea of daylight on Monday evening, that I was obliged to trust to the idea of moonlight for the purpose of getting home,—and, as it had even more vivacity than the Bishop would think necessary to constitute reality, my drive was anything but dark,—and as little gloomy as possible, considering that my late idea of the direction of the poney’s head had become inverted. On getting home I anticipated a reproach, & asked––“Am I going to be very much abused”?—notwithstanding which, I encountered none,—& was assured that no one could have supposed my discretion capable of bringing me home before twelve,—when I was with you, & had the carriage quite to myself. So you see how unexpectedly trustworthy I proved myself to be!
I have been much amused by your Pope Joan of Arc! [2] The knowledge of bare facts has no more intellectual dignity, than has the knowledge of consecutive simple alphabetic sounds. The dignity of wisdom, as of eloquence, is formed from the combination,—from reasoning by & upon that combination. I have Miller’s four thick octavos, entitled the Philosophy of Modern History. [3] Now some people who do not like “Modern History”, like the “philosophy” of anything,—and the first volume, containing the philosophic theory without the Historical references, is the only one which has been thumbed & dog-eared. I was once asked on a point relating to the treatises for the “Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.” My Father overheard the question, & interupted the questioner, by exclaiming .. “Oh! don’t ask her! She knows nothing about it! She is an enemy to all useful knowledge whatever!” I certainly think, and you perhaps may agree with me, that what is generally called useful knowledge, is not often elevating knowledge, & is not always, even useful.
On opening your book to look for Joan of Arc, I came upon your translation of the beautiful episode in the Georgics [4] —the finest & most original passage in Virgil’s poetry, I maintain! Did I not once tell you how much I admired this translation? I believe I did—but I must say it over again. I must say besides that this translation appears to me now, superior to the version from Sophocles, which I formerly thought, & still think, so beautiful. The translation from the Georgics is undeniably superior in beauty,—and I am aware that I did not at first dwell upon it sufficiently. The harmony is various and expressive, yet unbroken: not a tone of the original’s energy & pathos wants a corresponding tone,—and the diction is warm, graceful, & flowing. Altogether it is an highly finished performance. The monosyllables in the following line finely preserve the imitative harmony–
“She, cold & mute, moves on in that dim boat”– [5]
Speaking of boats puts me in mind of your censure on Lord Byron’s nautical professionality. When I did not agree with you on that subject, I was only consistent, tho’ I did not know it at the time. I did not, at the time, recollect having, myself, written the following “vulgarity”–
Man! hast thou seen the gallant vessel sweep,
Borrowing her moonlight &c &c– [6]
I was going to tell you that Sir Uvedale Price proposes to spend a few days here on Friday,—but I have just learnt Mama’s intention of visiting Cheltenham, in which case, he of course will not come. I am sorry on every account,—and I should have liked you to have had an opportunity of knowing him to be something more than a “pleasant agreable man”. At any rate, you will probably have this opportunity in November.
I have written a much longer letter than I intended,—but I find it difficult,—from bad habit & other causes,—to write briefly when I am writing to you. To make amends, I have sent you no queries,—so there is no necessity for you to trouble yourself in any way about replying. Pray do not think of it!–
Saturday.
You see I had nearly finished a letter to you when I received your note. You must forgive my detention of your messenger, for I have been obliged to get a letter ready for London,—& have been engaged with my brother, who has just parted from us in an heart-broken state. [7] Mr Carden was here this morning, & has given so favorable a report of our dear invalid, that we are rendered happy & thankful on her account. He sanctions her little excursion to Cheltenham,—and as the separation from her will not be a very long one, I am inclined to consider it with pleasure,—as a probable means of increasing her strength & power of enjoyment.
I have no Pindar,—except Dalzel’s dislocation, [8] which you will not condescend to receive. Keep the Sophocles & Euripides as long as you please .. after my good example!– With our kind regards to Mrs Boyd,—& Miss Boyd,
believe me
Your very sincere friend
E B Barrett–
Will you tell Miss Boyd that my sister’s silkworms have monopolized nearly all my franks. I send her what I have remaining—and she promised to tolerate duplicates. Mr Hutchinson’s autograph [9] is the only one at all valuable.
Mama takes both the carriages to Cheltenham [10] —so you must not be angry if I cannot go to see you soon. Nothing decisive from my Father!
Address, on integral page: Hugh Stuart Boyd Esqr
Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 58–61.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Dated by reference to Mary Moulton-Barrett’s impending trip to Cheltenham, where she died. According to her final letter to EBB, she left Hope End on 30 September.
2. A reference to Joan of Arc, and a later comment, “Whether a young woman ever was Pope, is a question which cannot be positively decided,” appear on p. xiii of Boyd’s Thoughts on an Illustrious Exile (1825).
3. Lectures on the Philosophy of Modern History (1816–28) by George Miller (1764–1848). Line 351 of An Essay on Mind spoke of him as “Enlighten’d Miller of our modern days” and note (h) to Bk. I (p. 93) says “Those who may think this praise excessive are referred to the Philosophy of Modern History, given to the world by Dr. Miller; and thence are requested to judge of the reality of the merit.”
4. “The Death of Orpheus and Eurydice,” from Bk. IV of Georgics, appeared on pp. 31–35 of Thoughts on an Illustrious Exile.
5. This line occurs on p. 34 of Boyd’s book; the corresponding line in Vergil is Georgics, IV, 506.
6. Lines 1216–17 of An Essay on Mind.
7. Sam resumed his studies at Charterhouse on Monday, 29 September.
8. Andrew Dalzel (1742–1806) included a small selection of Pindar’s Odes in the second volume of his Collectanea Græca Majora (1789).
9. EBB had a collection of autographs (see Reconstruction, D1412) which she shared and exchanged with friends, her main source of supply being signatures taken from letters franked by those enjoying post-free privileges. The Mr. Hutchinson of whom she speaks could have been John Hely Hutchinson (1724–94), Keeper of the Privy Seal for Ireland, or his son Christopher (1767–1826), both of whom sat in Parliament.
10. Travelling with Mary Moulton-Barrett were her sister Arabella (Bummy) and daughter Henrietta.
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