1463. Benjamin Robert Haydon to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 8, 96–97.
London
Dec 19. 1843
A merry Xmas to you my sweet invisible– I awoke this Morning with a deep feeling of gratitude to God for the mere sensation of being alive & thinking—& I said
Count o’er the joys thy days have seen
Count o’er thy hours from anguish free
And know whatever thou has been
It’s something better Still to be. [1]
Not to be was Byrons– Still to be is mine & I maintain it is a healthier & nobler feeling—
You have been hard at Work & so have I— The Queen’s smile on my Napoleon, [2] brought orders for, small repetitions at a small price, but I prefer painting cheap if I can keep out of debt–
I painted 3 in 16½ hours and am painting a small Napoleon & Curtius, which you shall see before they go home because I think they will please–
By the bye I have sent you my Portrait– Cant you let me see yours? I think that’s fair & like Royal Persons! Are we not Royal?
I move Alexander in a day or two—to a larger Room for toning– Success to it– The Duke of Sutherland called & thought it was too serious a business to make Alexander smile in Triumph—but I said No– The Lion was sinking—& Alexander would smile, at such a Victory. [3] The Duke’s exceeding mild & beautiful breeding, shrunk at the Idea of fighting a Lion[.] I told his Grace I would give the World to do such a thing before I died!– I need not tell he smiled—as much as to Say “monté[.]” [4] I cant help thinking I do wrong[;] I should not let a Duke see I glory in what he thinks a danger!– But he is such a delightful Creature, is so good a Friend & the Dutchess too, [5] that I pour forth, without the least hesitation before them– Do you know I am attached to the Aristocracy, I believe them as good as any of the other Classes. I know them to be—and I should regret to see their Class[,] so useful a check on people and Crown, lowered or crippled—though I feel I am a humble portion of the Mighty Spirit rising in the World, yet one would not like to see such a Class extinguished—why should it be wished, as it is, I know– It is more from Envy than principle—the noble way in which they relieved Miss Mitford has raised them in the Scale of my esteem & I hope in yours– [6]
Now the Sky is clearing I must to brush– So adieu——
Ever Thine My sweet Friend In Water or Wine
B R Haydon
Miss B Barrett
Mary is just come down looking like an angel as you’d say[.]
B R H
Take care of my oil[.]
Address: Miss B. Barrett / 50. Wimpole St.
Publication: EBB-BRH, pp. 166–167.
Manuscript: University of Vermont.
1. Cf. Byron, “Euthanasia” (1812), lines 33–36. Haydon has changed the last line from “’Tis something better not to be.”
3. Haydon is speaking of “Alexander’s Combat with the Lion,” finished at the end of December. George Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland (1786–1861) had purchased Haydon’s “The Spanish Nun” and “Cassandra Predicting the Murder of Agamemnon,” both painted in 1834.
4. Sic, for “montez” (“mount up”).
5. Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana, Duchess of Sutherland (née Howard, 1806–68), the daughter of the 6th Earl of Carlisle, had married her cousin in 1823. She was Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria in successive Whig administrations.
6. The Duke of Devonshire and other members of the nobility had contributed to Miss Mitford’s subscription.
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