1560. Richard Hengist Horne to EBB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 8, 242–243.

[London]

Monday [Postmark: 4 March 1844]

My dear Miss Barrett. I have just rec’d your note.

I will do what you wish as well as I can. But it is the worst possible moment you could have selected (short of a last sigh) to ask me to read anything. You may suppose I have a sadly jaded mind and nervous system. You had better wait a week. But if you cannot, send me the poem at once—and I’ll give it you. My opinion, I mean. [1]

But first—Oh yes first surely—wait till our book is out?! Only tomorrow, to wait!?

I will send you a copy the moment I can lay hands upon one. But I have not even seen one yet.

You will be glad to hear that so many have already been subscribed to the ‘trade’ that another edition seems very probably [sic], and in a short space of time.

Mark the margins of your copy freely. And I will give you another in exchange. It will help me to revise, very considerably.

I intend to add, if possible, without upsetting many pages of type, to one of the articles you will be particularly interested in—and if you would like to see any passage omitted in this article—set your D. against it, and I shall (ten thousand to one, bet I shall) obey the hint. [2]

In great haste

Yours truly

R.H.H

Address: Miss E. B. Barrett / 50 Wimpole St / Cavendish Square.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.

1. EBB had apparently asked for Horne’s opinion of “A Drama of Exile.”

2. See letter 1562 for EBB’s particular objections to his comments on her. The main change Horne made in the second edition was the addition of 21 pages of “Introductory Comments,” in which he attempted to defend himself against some of the adverse criticism directed towards the first edition, but he did make minor alterations to some of the chapters, including that on EBB and Mrs. Norton.

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