1419. EBB to Richard Hengist Horne
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 8, 21–22.
[London]
Eleven o’clock a.m. Wednesday. [Postmark: 1 November 1843]
My dear Mr Horne I write in all the hurry of blots, in reply to your note “by express” this morning, to assure you solemnly that if Mr Reade really meant to tell you that he was aware of my having touched your work with my little finger, he must have had it from especial revelation of angels– I solemnly assure you that I never mentioned the subject even to my own father,—that I have never named the ‘Spirit of the Age’ or anything bearing a relation to it, even to Miss Mitford, .. lest the very suggestion of a surmise shd be made or repeated. You are in the wrong, be sure, my dear Mr Horne. Thus it must have been … that Mr Reade heard from Miss Mitford & intended to express to you, that I was to be mentioned in the book, & that you mistook his meaning for that of my hand being employed in it. Miss Mitford knew I was to be in it, because she wrote to tell me of the book, with some kind expressions of congratulation that now she shd have my picture &c,––to which I replied (the only word I ever said on the subject at all) that you had indeed been good enough to propose it but that I had declined the honor & crown of the portrait, by an instinct of what was undue to me. Now do you see? I know nothing of Mr Reade—and if I did, I have mentioned the subject to nobody,—not to Miss Mitford,—not to Mr Kenyon. I am innocent—stand with washed hands before you. [1] In fact I am the person to be vexed,—& I am vexed thoroughly. Oh—will this be in time enough to prevent your notes of explanation? Try to explain away the explanation. I quite see that I ought not to be named in connexion with this book—& for several other than the obvious reasons I object to being named– It is a service of danger to write in the book,—& I who am a woman, am not made for war.
Do what you can to get me out of this scrape.
In reply to your letter of yesterday, I will do anything you think me fit for—on conditions of strict secrecy– But how is it to be kept now?——
I am quite vexed—& yesterday I was pleased by your letter.
Mr Reade! Who wd ever have suspected him of having especial revelations?– [2]
Ever yours
EBB——
Are you sure that you said nothing yourself to Miss Mitford? If you did …—it is explained.
Address: R H Horne Esqr / 38. Finsbury Square.
Publication: EBB-RHH, I, 168–171.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. Cf. Matthew, 27:24.
2. An oblique reference to Reade’s reputation for plagiarism (see, for example, letter 643, note 3).
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