1526. Richard Hengist Horne to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 8, 195–196.
5 Fortess Terrace[,] Kentish Town
[ca. 10 February 1844] [1]
I am at Brighton, but address as usual, because parcels are continually coming down to me from London.
The publishers, now wringing their hands, and giving me 1000 reasons, wh I cannot repeat, beg and pray for completion by the 21st of this month, so that they may publish with the magazines and send at the same time to India, America &c &c <I mean to struggle through; if possible.> [2]
Will you, therefore, my dear Miss Barrett, return the No 1 division of the proofs as soon as you have read it—say by Tuesday night, or at once, if you have read and marked it. And the other 2nd and 3rd divisions as soon after as you can.
I have just read over the Dickens proof, and am vexed you sh’d have seen it in so imperfect a state of revision. You must have had many puzzles—such as Dickens’ style being called “severe”—to say nothing of grammatical slips, several of which, I dare say, are not attributable to the printer. There are also some stupid blunders in “Nelly’s Funeral”, [3] and the other unintentional blank verse.
I think you will be very glad to know that I have written all that remains to be written except about four sheets, so that, if I can manage the revisions, I believe I shall be in time. Sad work for the head, and all the rest of one, though[.]
Yours truly
H
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. This letter falls between no. 1524, with which Horne sent three packets of proofs, and no. 1527, with which EBB hastily returned two of the three packets.
2. The bracketed comment was squeezed in as an afterthought.
3. A New Spirit, I, 66–67.
___________________
