1123. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 283–284.
[London]
Jany. 10. 1843–
Bow from thy cloud, O son of the morning, [1] & drink the dew from my grass! I write only a few lines to aquaint you my very dear friend that Arabel has received a note from Mr Hunter desiring her to express his thanks to you for your kind intention respecting his daughter, & to explain, that, as her Christmas holidays are now drawing to a close & she returns very soon, by his wish, to a school which had been advantageous to her; it is not possible to accede to your proposition about her visiting you at present– [2]
This reply is nearly what I had expected—and I do agree with Mr Hunter, that the acquirement of regular habits of occupation—such as she wd be likely to acquire in a good school; is highly necessary to Mary under every point of view.
I receive your letter while I write—& I am afraid my dearest friend, that I am in a sad scrape with you & not likely to be out of it—seeing that (alas!) I dont admire Ossian very much—not Dr Blair, the least bit– [3] He was a very bad & narrow critic in my opinion, & did not know much more of poetry than I do of mathematics– I am not at all surprised therefore at any blasphemy of Dr Blair’s—but that I shd hear you—you—you .. talk profanely against Homer & Æschylus, makes my blood run cold!
I will examine the two editions of Ossian which are in the house, & send either that happens to be old enough– But listen to me my dear Mr Boyd!– The loudest testimony against Macpherson’s Ossian, arises not from Johnson [4] nor any critic of them all, .. but out of the midst of Macpherson’s Ossian itself. That is my persuasion.
Ever your selfwilled & affectionate
Elizabeth Barrett B
Address: H S Boyd Esqr / 21 Downshire Hill / Hampstead.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Trinity College, Cambridge.
1. Isaiah, 14:12.
3. See the previous letter.
4. See letter 1114, note 4, for Johnson’s refutation of the poems’ authenticity.
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