1425. Richard Hengist Horne to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 8, 33.
[London]
Monday Morng [Postmark: 6 November 1843]
My dear Miss Barrett I did reply—the next day—did you not receive it?
Or suppose as soon as you had sent the first note, you sent the second—and while that was on the wing, my reply to the first was being written.
It is to me inconceivable how anybody should have known that you were doing anything on the work—in fact, I see now, that it was not known—but somehow imagined. I try to find in my own soul an admission that I breathed a word of the possibility of your assistance—but no, I have no recollection—not even to Miss Mitford.
As I told you, even in my expresses, I named no name—my note, therefore, has no doubt mystified Miss Mitford, who seeing there must be some odd mistake somewhere, about somebody about something, has very wisely said to herself “I’ll think no more of the matter, whatever it be.”
I was so hurried that I never thanked you for your kind offer of further assistance in the shape of “Counsel’s Opinion” on men or books. In fact, I felt it was a most inauspicious moment—for you seemed like a “charged jar.” [1] But then, was it not best I should at once bestir myself—and of course, as in honor bound, let you know?
But I do believe in your faith and silence. I swear it. And men do talk—hang them—they can’t help it—poor wretches.
Yours
H.
P.S. Do let me set you right about poor unintentionally sinning Reade. He has a pure feeling for, and aspiration after poetry—which I greatly respect: also I like the man.
Address: Miss E. B. Barrett / 50 Wimpole St / Cavendish Sqre.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. A Leyden jar, or condenser, first used in 1745, in which “electric energy is stored up … and can be recovered again in the form of an electric discharge” (EB).
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