1384. Benjamin Robert Haydon to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 7, 337–338.
London
Sep 20th 1843
My dear Friend /
I spent the whole day with a Lion, & came home with a Contempt for the human species!
Before we parted, we were Friends, & finding I was not disposed, to torment him in any way, he suffered me to pat his forehead, & smooth his paw– Perceiving I was worthy of his confidence, he stretched out & fell into a profound sleep, watching me now & then for the first half hour, but seeing I was no hypocrite, he fairly put his grand head back with the “abandon” of luxurious indulgence & roared & growled into forgetfulness– Before I went, the Lioness was admitted and immediately assailed him with all the blandishments of attachment– Tickling herself with his grand mane[,] crouching beneath his grand paws & tumbling head over heels to attract his admiration!– [1] T’was delightful! The time came for her Majesty to retire, but his Majesty, blocked up the door & refused permission—— The Keeper dropped the door on his nose, which started him back, & he was shut out instead of her– I then went round, & had him to myself in a sort of back court for 3 hours—& made some glorious studies– (Of course he was caged)— I hope to have a glorious Animal for you, when you do come——
I came home knocked up—the heat of Sun shining into a sort of hot house at Cross (Surrey Zoological) [2] boiled one, the screeching of Macaws[,] the waspish snarls of leopards & Tigers, & eternal noises, of birds & beasts from all the quarters of Earth, excited & distracted——
I came home outside an Omnibus & the Coachman, dropped all my studies into the road, as a proof of his taste & grace in handing them to me– I dipped my face head & neck in delicious cold Water—& putting myself in order for dinner spent the Evening after, looking over my studies, & disputing with Frank & Hyman on the superiority of Milton to Byron in the Conception of Satan[.] How delightful it is to live to see Boys, you first taught, come home distinguished, & able to argue with their Father, who is able to argue with them–
I assure you, as Dunning [3] said to Reynolds, when we meet the rest of the World is quiet at least—all eager, fierce & well read in both Authors,—no one sparing the other—and maintaining our respective positions like Heroes.– Good night &
Ever yours
B R Haydon
Miss B Barrett
Publication: EBB-BRH, pp. 148–150.
Manuscript: University of Vermont.
1. Haydon wrote in his diary: “The Lioness was in heat, & as playful as a Kitten, and on my stooping down to get my port crayon, gave me an affectionate pat like a sledge hammer on my head which luckily had my hat on” (Pope, V, 315).
2. “Surrey Zoological Gardens, Panton Place, Kennington, contained the menagerie of Mr. Cross, by whom the grounds were laid out in 1831–1832, after the demolition of Exeter ’Change and the Mews at Charing Cross. The collection of animals was a very good one, the lions and tigers having been especially noted” (London Past and Present, by Henry B. Wheatley, 1891, III, 338).
3. Not identified.
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