621. EBB to Mary Russell Mitford

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 22–23.

74 Gloucester Place

Monday. [early April 1838] [1]

My dear friend, I am going to put one question into as few words as possible,—being in great haste. Have you the least shadow of preference for my not comprizing the Ganges ballad, written for your Tableaux, in my little volume of poems? Do answer me quite plainly. I have not any wish about it, believe me; and even if I had, the stronger one would still be to attend to your wish.–

Some of the MSS have actually gone to press– So now, there is room for only “the late remorse of fear”. [2] The Ganges is not wanted, even to fill up–

Are you quite well? Would that I could hear you say ‘yes’—but I suppose there is no hope of that pleasant sound coming, actually & sensibly, to supersede my coughing. I am rather better I think, & do ‘honor due’ to a blister which I submitted to so reluctantly a few days ago–

Occy is a great Murpheist, [3] notwithstanding all the proved frailty of the prophecies,—& when Sette & I laugh at him for it, the retort is that we both believe in animal magnetism—which is much worse!—— ‘Alice or the mysteries’ is magnetizing me just now! [4] I have read one volume.

Dearest Miss Mitford, I must say goodbye! You will readily forgive a short post[s]cript to my long letter of last week.

Your affectionate

EBB–

Address on integral page: Miss Mitford / Three Mile Cross / near Reading.

Publication: EBB-MRM, I, 66–67.

Manuscript: Wellesley College.

1. Dated by the reference to The Seraphim being in the press, and by EBB’s still being at Gloucester Place.

2. A modification of Byron’s “late remorse of love” (Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, Canto the Fourth, 1818, stanza 137, line 9).

3. A reference to Patrick Murphy, the weather prophet (see letter 609, notes 3 and 4).

4. Bulwer’s novel, published in February 1838.

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