694. EBB to Mary Russell Mitford
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 153–154.
Torquay.
Thursday. [23 May 1839] [1]
I write in the utmost haste dearest Miss Mitford—that the fish may not go to you in their native silence. May you both be quite well when this reaches you! Give my regards to Dr Mitford.
I heard the other day a story which amused me. Mr Garrow [2] in writing to Mr Landor said (of course in jest) that from the numerous Latin quotations in Cheveley he was generally supposed to have assisted in the composition. To which Mr Landor replied in great indignation & a very seriously crossed letter, that the report was quite untrue & he was much astonished at its having gone abroad—not that he cared so much about the book & its tendencies—but he was excessively annoyed at being considered a dealer in quotations—he, all the time, hating quotations, & feeling perfectly able to walk without crutches! How characteristic this is in all ways!—& very true—for my brother heard Mr Garrow talk of it only a few days since.
I am heartily glad to see in the Athenæum Sir Lytton Bulwer’s denial of the brochure attributed to him. [3] In the meanwhile the “wife of Bath” [4] so far from wearing sackcloth, is heard of (since the infamous publication) at the Bath masquerade in a Pompadour costume!——
Ever your most affectionate,
hurried Elizabeth B B——
I am going on well—& Dr. Barry talks of having me out on the sea in a few days—shd the sunshine last & the winds turn to south winds. But ever since I have been ill, I think, north & east winds have been in fashion. I dont remember hearing of them before!——
Publication: EBB-MRM, I, 130.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Dated by the notice in The Athenæum.
2. Joseph Garrow (1789–1857) was the father of Theodosia Garrow, whose acquaintance EBB had made in November 1838.
3. The Athenæum of 18 May 1839 (no. 603, pp. 379–380) said “It was not our intention to notice a small rhyming brochure, lately published, called, ‘Lady Cheveley, or the Woman of Honour.’ … it has no such distinctive character, merit or demerit, as to require from us a formal recognition. But, strange as it may appear, the work has been publicly attributed to Sir E.L. Bulwer; and we are therefore requested to state, not only that it was not written by him … but that, so soon as the announcement appeared, the following letter was addressed to the publisher, in the hope that it might induce him or the author to stop the publication.” A letter dated 24 April 1839 follows.
4. Chaucer’s title refers, of course, to Lady Bulwer, who was living in Bath.
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