Correspondence

1050.  Hugh Stuart Boyd to EBB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 152–153.

Monday Evening [14 November 1842] [1]

My very dear Friend–

I think you know that I dislike dictating long letters. My first letter to you, was what I call a very long one. I do not make any copy of my letters and I think I may say, that I do not write with much pre-meditation. I therefore forget afterwards, the greater part of what I have written. If I said anything of you, which you consider is unjust, I really do not remember what it was. I feel sorry if I did so; and—especially, because I fear that by hurting your feelings, I may have contributed to make your health worse. Now supposing that I did not say anything unjust of you, yet still in your weak state I may have agitated and affected you, by speaking so strongly against the man whom you thus admire. [2] I am very sorry if I did so; but the fact is this. I have a great dislike of literary injustice, as well as other species of injustice. Let us agree, that this man is a very good poet, and much superior to many. Still, I assert that it is an act of the most glaring, and flagrant injustice, to rank him as superior, or even equal to that poet who wrote Childe Harold, the Gia[o]ur, the Bride of Abydos, and the Corsair. Do but think of the various descriptions in the fourth Canto of Child[e] Harold; Think too of that awful, that tremendous Poem called Darkness. [3] I think, that this is the name he gave it. I think I may say that for several years I have troubled my head but little about Byron. It is owing to you, that I have lately been repeating some passages which I still remembered, and by a little mental exertion, recalling some which I had nearly forgotten. I have been delighted and astonished. In some places he exhibits a thrilling pathos, in some an exquisite beauty, in some, a singular richness and luxuriance, in some a finished harmony; & in others a mighty grandeur, a towering sublimity. He was indeed, a great, and wonderful Poet. But I will say no more at present, excepting this. Let me entreat, that you will not think of answering me till you are much better, and that you do not write too much. If you should write a long letter, pray do it at different times.

Your’s very affecly

H. S. Boyd

Address, on integral page: Miss Barrett / 50 Wimpole Street / London.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.

1. This letter is postmarked 15 November 1842, a Tuesday.

2. Wordsworth; see letter 1048.

3. Included in The Prisoner of Chillon (1816), it was reviewed by Sir Walter Scott in The Quarterly Review, October 1816 (p. 204).

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