328. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 176–177.
Hope End.
Tuesday Morng. Novr 18th [1828] [1]
As Papa has given me some game, for the purpose of sending it to you, I think, dear Mr Boyd, that you may like to hear at the same time, of our being better. I assure you, I feel myself every day, less nervous & more tranquil,—& better able to think as I used to do. I never knew before how much the heart could bear—I know now,—& I also know how little it can bear, in its own strength. Both these kinds of knowledge are useful: they are worth the painful experience by which they are bought, tho’ every tender remembrance & vain anticipation be called upon to “count the cost”. Forgive my intruding my feelings on you so selfishly, & so naturally, & so uselessly!–
When my poor father received his melancholy summons, Grandmama was very anxious to leave London at the same time,—but he would not hear of it,—dreading the effect of agitation & fatigue,—upon her already weak frame. As it was, the sudden unexpected intelligence caused her to be very unwell for several days. She will not come to Malvern this winter. I hope she will, in the spring—but I have recently suffered too much from a much too sanguine disposition, to trust to it again, & so soon. I have mentioned this subject to you, because I think you were interested about her coming. Do not mention it to me. I would rather not think of it, on many accounts—for it is very painfully associated in my recollections!——
If you can conveniently lend me Dr Kidd’s [2] work which I once saw at your house, will you? It shall be taken care of, & not detained for six months, ‘meo more’. [3] I really might return your Gregory today, but I suppose that my messenger will have enough to carry without a folio, & that I may trespass on your long-suffering, a very little while longer. Give my kind regards to Mrs Boyd,—& to Miss Boyd if she should have returned to you. At any rate, I hope that she is well & happy,—& that you are likewise, & have Mr Segur [4] to read Greek to you every evening!
Your ever sincere friend,
EBB–
Address, on intergal page: H. S. Boyd Esqr / Malvern.
Publication: EBB–HSB, p. 64.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Year determined by the references to the recent death of EBB’s mother.
2. In view of Boyd’s interest in the subject, expressed in a series of letters from him published in The Methodist Magazine for the Year 1818, it seems quite likely that this work was A Dissertation on the Eternal Sonship of Christ (1822), by James Kidd (1761–1834). The use of the title “Doctor” rules out Thomas Kidd (1770–1850), whose work on the digamma is mentioned by EBB in later letters.
3. “According to my custom.”
4. Possibly John Seager (1776–1849), who was a classical scholar and a contributor to The Classical Journal, so might well have been a friend of Boyd.
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