696. EBB to Mary Russell Mitford
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 160–161.
Torquay.
Saturday. [?8] [June 1839]. [1]
My dearest Miss Mitford,
I am beginning to write in a great hurry, & must soon end in a greater, or the post will be gone.
In the first place as you really do wish to have me & if you really dont change your mind as to that very questionable wisdom,—I am ready for any business or ballad.
I confess it has been a matter of regret to me, in regard to both your sets of Tableaux, that your poets did not for the most part bear popular names—& in the case of your having only four of them, [2] this regret will be stronger. I cannot help believing that the book would sell better if there were a substratum of popularity to rest the poetical part of it upon—the prose being safe. Where is Mrs Howitt? Above all, would Joanna Baillie send nothing to you [3] ––no fragment no half scene––if you asked her? What a name that wd be! Do write to Landor your very own self—he is at Bath—and I know by his countenance when you went away (that night at Mr Kenyon’s) he could not say [‘]‘no” if you asked him. And then Mr Talfourd––
Now dont be severe upon me dearest Miss Mitford, about “bubbles” & “popularities”. The public is the public! Yes! and I know by my very own self who am no public, that in reading advertisements of literary collections, the interest fastens instantly to names!
This is all abundantly impertinent—but you asked for my mind, & I tell it to you the more frankly because remarks from others at different times upon the subject in question have strengthened my doxy. Of course the theory is against my own admission between your green covers, but I remain at your pleasure—— Will me between them or away from them according to it——
Let me hear from you when you resolve finally. If you wish me to ask Miss Garrow for a contribution I shall very gladly do it. [4]
Like the woods!—of course I do!– I cant say now how much!– But thank you for the delightful walk in them I have just taken with you!– “My public” might well envy me my letter!——
Your most affectionate
E B Barrett.
I am so glad, so very glad, to have this convincing proof of Dr Mitford’s being well. May God bless both of you.
Barry Cornwall— He may be moved—may he not? [5]
Publication: EBB-MRM, I, 131–132.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. In letter 699, dated 12 June, EBB says she is “about … to contribute again to Finden’s Tableaux”; that provides an approximate date for this letter.
2. As EBB makes clear in letter 699, there were to be only four poetical contributors; the remainder of the text would be prose stories by Miss Mitford. The other writers suggested later in this paragraph did not contribute.
3. Underscored four times.
4. It is not known whether Miss Mitford did ask EBB to approach Theodosia Garrow, but she did not contribute.
5. He was; he furnished “Venice” for the 1840 Findens’ Tableaux.
___________________
