3026. RB to Richard Hengist Horne
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 18, 66.
Paris, Avenue des Champs Elysées, 138.
March 15. [1852] [1]
My dear Horne, It is like you to help me so promptly—since I am sure, from your tact & feeling, that there must have been need for it: [2] I never see the Lit. Gaz:—& whoever failed to see what my preface really concerned itself about—& what opinion was passed on these new Letters in the two sentences, at beginning & end of it, which allude to them (something to the effect that their importance is slight,—scarcely less slight than that of my own work—I could not in decency say more)—must be “of the Lit. Gaz. Lit. Gazettish”—as I freely render the Apostle’s Greek [3] for their benefit—not yours who are Greek, (& “Antique Roman rather than a Dane”) [4] and, to boot & best of all, the dear good friend of my wife & your ever faithful, RB.
Both our kindest regards to Mrs Horne—of whom we shall see much more, or be proportionately disappointed.
Address, on integral page: R. H. Horne Esq. / Beaumont Cottage / College Road, / Haverstock Hill.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Year provided by RB’s reference to Horne’s letter in The Literary Gazette of 13 March 1852.
2. See the enclosure with the preceding letter.
3. RB refers to St. Paul in I Corinthians 15:47: “The first man is of the earth, earthy.”
4. Cf. Hamlet, V, 2, 341.
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