Correspondence

1148.  Hugh Stuart Boyd to EBB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 318–319.

[Postmark: 8 February 1843]

My very dear Friend, When that other Child of Virtue, and Sweetness, and Kindness, [1] came here on Friday; I think I forgot to tell her, that I had received your letter. I must of course be satisfied, with the fair and liberal manner, in which you now speak of Ossian. I feel conscious, that a great deal of what you say is true; but I cannot see, that his sameness in the Characters, and his vagueness and Cloudiness in the descriptions, indicate a want of antiquity. If we have not any undoubted Poems of Ossian, and if we have not any undoubted Poems written by Poets of the time of Ossian; how can we be certain in what manner Ossian would have written? I think I told you, there is an idea of Ossian[’]s; which I always admired. Describing a Ghost, he says, The stars dim twinkled through his form. [2] Does not this give us an admirable idea of the thinness, and unsubstantiality of a Spirit? But let us now speak of higher subjects. I am happy, that we agree best on such subjects. I think however, that considering it in a poetical light, and taking it as a whole, the 15th Chapter of Exodus, is not so splendid and magnificent, as the 32nd of Deuteronomy. I think that the Chapter immediately following, is nearly as fine as the 32nd It appears to me, that the passage near the end of Genesis, wherin [sic] Jacob blesses his Sons, is amazingly fine in some parts. I allude principally to these words. Reuben, thou art, down to, excellency of power. [3] A part of what he says about Joseph, appears to me a fine specimen of grand majestic sound. The blessings of thy Father, down to, the everlasting hills. [4] The song of Deborah, [5] taken as a whole, seems to me not at all equal, either to those passages which I have mentioned, or to the 15th Chapter of Exodus if my memory be correct, I once pointed out to you, a very rich and splendid passage, either in the 50th or 51st of Ecclesiasticus. How was he honored, down to, the garment of holiness honorable. [6] I think you will agree with me, that the 3rd Chapter of Habbakuk, is one of the most grand and sublime specimens of the Hebrew Poetry.

I am much pleased, that the Americans set so much value on your Poems. Arabel told me, how much they admired the Poem called The cry of the Human. I should like to read it. If they should send it to you, I trust that you will send it to me. [7]

Ever yours affectionately

H.S. Boyd.

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

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.

1. i.e., Arabella Moulton-Barrett.

2. This description of the ghost of Cuchullin appears in the poem “Dar-thula.”

3. Genesis, 49:3.

4. Genesis, 49:26.

5. Judges, 5:1ff.

6. Apocrypha: Ecclesiasticus, 50:5–11.

7. EBB sent him the poem with letter 1154.

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