1294. Richard Hengist Horne to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 7, 199.
[London]
June 19/43
My dear Miss Barrett, I know you could not be in earnest—you need not tell me that you are not really angry at my unequal division of the copies between you and Miss Mitford. I saw at once, as you see, that she has recently received various acts of kindness from various people—and here was a little graceful opportunity of doing something out of the common way. Of course you must not drop the least hint of this to her—it looks like a calculation to serve her, instead of an impulse—and so you wo’nt say one syllable.
No—I am not well—and not getting well. I think of joining my mother at the sea side shortly, and then I think I shall get better. Most I want is rest—no work—the sea, and unbusiness-like exercise. Enough of this—too much.
Will you be so kind as [to] let Miss Mitford know that in transmitting “Orion” by post she need not affix more than 6 stamps for the weight—provided she chooses a rather thin paper for the envelope, and small seals, or paste, or gum. I knew this all along—but I chose to have the weight increased by a thick-paper cover– I intended to try “faith” by insisting upon 9d (nay 10d) for a Farthing Poem. [1] And heaps of people have actually “ventured their souls.” [2]
Being at Miller’s on Saturday night, after the shutters were up, I routed out the three last copies, as I believe they were, of the first Edition of “Orion” which I herewith transmit for you to cast upon “the waters” [3] —as also do the one I sent you– I want you by preference to have for yourself a copy of the 2nd Edn as it contains sundry revisions of slips of the pen—and two or three lines interpolated—I think at pp 29–47. [4]
The bright star you mention I know well. I saw it the first night of its recent visit—and know it of old.
Yours truly.
H.
Address: Miss E. B. Barrett.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
2. We have not located the source of this quotation.
3. Ecclesiastes, 11:1.
4. The differences are quite minor: changes to p. 29, line 13; p. 30, line 4; p. 47, lines 13 and 15; and lines 16 and 17 on p. 47 of the 1st edition deleted.
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