1077. Hugh Stuart Boyd to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 207.
| [In the hand of an amanuensis] | [London] |
Wednesday Evening [7 December 1842] [1]
My very dear Friend,
I will speak candidly. I think that your Sonnet [2] is very inferior to many of the very beautiful things which you have written. But I am glad of it. It is quite good enough for such a Man. Dont be angry. If you can endure his Writings, you may surely put up with anything else. But let me now talk of your last Letter. [3] It is a beautiful letter, and beautiful in different ways. The part about Byron, has the truth and spirit of Conversation. How delightful it would have been, to see the little Page walking, or jumping and frisking at the heels of Byron; that Page, whose pages were one day to outshine those of her Master.
I think that what you say on the subject of the Saved, and the Lost, is very excellent. I agree with you entirely in not attempting to enter into the secret counsels of God. I would not say anything which could have a tendency to controversy, but you wish me to answer a question candidly. When reaching any Part of Scripture, we ought of course, to pray for and hope for the Divine Blessing. But with regard to the human means; I consider, that such of us as are able, must interpret St Paul, or St John, by the same rules of criticism, by which we would interpret a Greek Dialogue, or a Greek Tragedy. If after this, there should remain any argument which is not settled; I consider, that this does not necessarily arise out of the Book, but has been unnecessarily engrafted into it. It was either a slip of the tongue, or else it was stupid if I said that any Part of the Epistle to the Romans, was a kind of Dialogue between St Paul and a Gentile. It is evidently a Dialogue between St Paul and a Jew.
I was much amused by the latter part of your Letter, in which you describe what would be the probable consequence, if you and I were to meet, and to begin some Theological Discussion.
Ever Yours affectionately
H S Boyd
I think it is quite shocking of the Man, who asked you to mention as little as possible, the names of God and Christ. [4]
Address, on integral page: Miss Barrett / 50– Wimpole Street. / London.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. This letter is postmarked 8 December 1842, a Thursday.
2. “On Mr. Haydon’s Portrait of Mr. Wordsworth.”
4. Charles Wentworth Dilke, editor of The Athenæum. EBB had mentioned this request at the end of letter 1071.
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