1140. EBB to Mary Russell Mitford

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 309.

[London]

Saturday. [?28] [January 1843]. [1]

Between the desire & reluctance of writing there is no end to my vibrations. I dare not trust myself, my beloved friend, to do more than thank you most earnestly for the fragments of precious time you have given me, & entreat you to spare yourself from my vile uses for the present, .. even now!–

Shall you wait for Ld Devonshire?– [2] My anxiety is great for the quiet which is to succeed all this agitation. I shall rejoice when the papers may speak of you—& you yourself may rest– In my ignorance, my supposition had been that four or six receivers & a designation of the Banking houses would be all the preparation. I look for your sign in the paper day by day.

No—I will not, will not, torment you. When you have read 30 letters & written 40, what can you have to say or hear from me?

May God bless you! Believe in my thoughts of you!

Your ever attached

EBB–

Publication: EBB-MRM, II, 170.

Manuscript: Wellesley College.

1. Date based on the impending subscription for Miss Mitford and a logical placement after letter 1135 and before letter 1143.

2. William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790–1858), was not one of the 37 signatories when the notice of the subscription was printed in The Morning Chronicle on 13 February and in The Times on 14 February.

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