1223. Benjamin Robert Haydon to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 7, 94–95.
London
April 28 1843
My dearest Friend /
I send you two Sketches of Napoleon’s favorite little column at the end of his Jardin Anglais & his bed, [1] which was magnificent—Green Lyons Velvet with painted Roses on white Satin—four Greek Casques with Ostrich plumes at the top, & a border of gold Lace a yard white [sic, for wide]—Finish a Looking glass–
Will you return the immortal Urn.
I have been sadly shocked at Reading Wilkie[’]s life,—to think that for 20 years of our earliest Friendship when daily I used to read to him my journal of my thoughts—& he used to speak of the danger of all personal remarks in [a] journal, which I never did[.] It was only a journal of conclusions on Art, & Poetry which have been the foundation of my lectures– I am shocked that I never knew he kept a journal of nothing but remarks on his Friends their weaknesses & follies–
He must like a Fox, have gone to his bed room night after night—& wrote down his journal, on all our journies I never saw a symptom—& never knew he had one[.]
I do not know I was ever more pained, because it shewed the value of his heart, or rather Scotch pebble–
Is it not shocking?– I shall be obliged to say something–
Yours ever & ever
B R Haydon
M Barrett
I’ll exchange the sketches in a week.
Address, on integral page: Miss B. Barrett / 50– Wimpole St.
Publication: EBB-BRH, p. 88.
Manuscript: University of Vermont.
1. Haydon described the drawing of these sketches in letter 1200. The English Garden at Fontainebleau was made for Napoleon and Josephine.
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