1237. Benjamin Robert Haydon to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 7, 116.
London
May 9. 1843
My dear Miss Barrett /
You are quite right—my eagerness would lead you astray—in feminine Etiquette– The Exhibition is open, My Saragossa is there, [1] but it is too high to see the Execution or expressions– M’Clise is a clever fellow, but hideous taste—Costume run Mad– Stone has a touching thing the last appeal [2] —a young pale agitated lover, appealing once more to a sweet girl who is pained at still saying “it[’]s useless–” I felt for the poor fellow—an absolute pang—poor fellow his face is the picture of that mysterious agony! and yet she is not a coquette, but a fine feeling creature who cant love him,—confound that Stone,—a very nice fellow, but an absolute executioner——
I have done 100 pages of Memoir & have touched off Leigh Hunt & got through our Controversy about Negro faculties 1811—in which I flushed my maiden pen! [3]
Adieu—I shall exchange Sketches[.] My daughter is really not so weak—I hope for the best[.] Mrs Haydon & she beg kindest regards–
Ever yours
B R Haydon
The Duke has bought my old Friend Sir W. Allan’s Waterloo[.] [4]
Miss B Barrett
Address: Miss B. Barrett / 50– Wimpole St.
Publication: EBB-BRH, pp. 95–96.
Manuscript: University of Vermont.
1. The Royal Academy exhibition opened on 8 May. Haydon’s “The Maid of Saragossa” was no. 579 in the catalogue.
2. Daniel Maclise was showing two works: “The Actor’s Reception of the Author” (no. 137) and “Waterfall at St. Nighton’s Keive near Tintagel, Cornwall” (no. 472). Frank Stone’s “The Last Appeal” was no. 534.
3. Haydon describes his first meeting with Leigh Hunt in 1811 in his autobiography, being impressed with the “fearless honesty of his opinions … the unselfish perseverance of his attacks on all abuses,” and says they “soon became intimate.” An article on “Negro Civilization” (presumably written by Hunt) appeared in The Examiner of 4 August 1811 (pp. 491–493); it claimed that “the negro, in his bodily conformation, is an inferior animal to the European, and this inferiority … implies … a decided inferiority in the capabilities of reasoning.” However, Hunt felt that “with opportunities of cultivation, with freedom, and with information” the Negro might rise above his brutish nature. Haydon strongly disagreed with this hypothesis, saying “I deny the negro that power of conquering his brutality … for this simple reason, because I suspect … he is without the intellectual power.” Haydon’s arguments in support of his opinion were published in the issues of 1, 15, 22 and 29 September 1811 (pp. 566–568, 596–598, 611–613 and 628–629); in addition, letters on this subject from other readers, and further comment by Hunt, appeared. (See also Haydon, I, 158–161.)
4. Sir William Allan (1782–1850), historical painter, was elected to the Royal Academy in 1835 and in 1838 became president of the Royal Scottish Academy. His painting of “The Battle of Waterloo from the English Side” was no. 287 in the 1843 Academy exhibition and was purchased by Wellington.
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