1640. Cornelius Mathews to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 9, 32–35.
New York.
27th June. 1844.
My dear Miss Barrett,
The sheets of your 1st. Vol. have all come to hand, and I make it the business of the first sentence of my letter giving you that information, to tell you they have achieved, a triu[m]ph in the reading. They have been seen as yet but by three or four. One of these is the editor of the Democratic Review [1] —The Magazine of the Democratic Face of the United States, a gentleman who mixing mainly with politicians and men of the world, one would suppose out of the reach of a sympathy with a work like the Drama of Exile. He says it is worth, (and he has a proper appreciation of her merits at the full—) all Mrs. Hemans has ever written: and that the sonnets are better than Wordsworths. That’s his way of stating the matter. Another, a quaint man—whose good opinion I value highly—and master of not a little curious learning, declares it the finest Poem since Manfred: [2] and a third equals it with Shelley. Now, understand, these are not the light opinions of frivolous talkers, and ready praisers, but of men, in general, chary and cautious: and what do I think of it?– Why that it is unquestionably the best Poem written by an Englishwoman, and that the two volumes cannot fail to place you, in all wise judgements, where I had already placed you, at the very head of the Female Writers of Britain and I am inclined to think that sundry of the Great Sex might, with a little modesty allowed them, give you place in another right than that of your Womanhood. The Drama of Exile has individuality of plan and conception, clarity, a suitable language (with a word or two that my peculiar taste would have perhaps changed) and leaves on the reader’s mind a complete, and harmonious impression, with the lyrical, descriptive and dramatic forces all in unison. You wrap your Adam and Eve at the gate of Eden in a cloud of desolation, and sweep them out into the wilderness: the cloud is about them from first to last their tabernacle, their shrine, their oracular lodgement and look-out—
And now of the Publishing arrangement, which, by the way, delayed my acknowledgement, of the early portion of the sheets by itself: The ‘Home Library’ about which I first wrote to you has ignominiously come to naught. [3] The Dry-salter (for that I think was once the gentleman’s vocation– All sorts of irresponsible persons think themselves into the business of Book-Publishing in this country) who assumed the charge of its Publication fell short lamentably short in the capital he was supposed equal to: and secondly, although I think this was scarcely fairly tried, it did not seem to strike the fancy of the Public, although a collection of poems by Mr. Bryant led the poetical series: [4] perhaps they need something of a higher and stronger tune than his verses. Anyhow the Home Library went, plumat-deep, to the bottom: and that end closed the perspective in that direction. But I have made an arrangement which will I hope please you quite as well: the terms of which you will find in the copy ‘Memorandum’ which I an[n]ex. The percentage may seem a small one: but when you consider that the publisher is open to invasion any moment, and has no security for the capital already invested in the work, you will perhaps be less inclined to dwell on that: a permanent interest, although it might result in no larger proceed, seemed more satisfactory than a single payment (moderate at the best) in hand: and the times of payment is regulated by the usage of the trade here. These are the chief points except to say that the use in the Democratic Review, which circulates widely and popularly, will serve it [the first half or rather about three-fifths appear in the No. for July, with a brief & hasty Introductory Note by the Editor, not ready to send by the steamer, but I forward you the single sheets through the Post Office] [5] —and that you will be entitled to copies of the American Edition, to a reasonable numbe[r] for your English friends, which I thought you might like to receive. You will bear in mind to send the remaining sheets as early as possible, through Wiley & Putnam, and endorsed “Please proceed im[m]ediately” or to that effect. Carey & Hart, [6] booksellers at Philadelphia, had announced to publish your Poems, but on my writing they relinquish the purpose in favour of a Publisher who allows you copy money. Mr. Langley, your American Publisher, [& I should have mentioned, is also the publisher of the Dem. Review] [7] is active, prompt, and respectable: has what is called a ‘flourishing’ store on Broadway, and will, I believe do your Book, good justice. In closing the business of the ‘Drama’ for the present I may add that it came to me at an opportune moment when a dramatic work in m∙s∙s. just completed was lying before me [and which I hope will one day reach England]: and that I shall probably prepare a Review of your Poems for the Democratic Magazine, [8] where I will have an opportunity of speaking out my mind at large.
I was near forgetting to tell you that your Preface strikes me as being what it should be, and what it is most difficult to make a Preface, a proper Introduction to the work it ushers: saying neither too much nor too little: and that I am your grateful Debtor for the compliment to the author of ‘Behemoth’—and, by the way, will you allow me to ask you whether the Athenæum did or did not com[m]it a grand error in classing that work with Salathiel [9] &c—it seemed to me that your own notion of it, as I recollect it in one of your letters, was much nearer the mark.
I cannot learn from anything you have written to me whether Mr. Horne received a copy of those ‘writi[n]gs’ sent to your charge for him—although I had a letter from Mr. Horne himself, in which there was no mention of their reception. [10] Can you explain?– Also whether Mr. H. received a letter from me by Steamer 1st May past; in writing to him you may tell him that the Spirit of the Age has made its impression in this country, has been widely copied from, and that there are 3 editions of it one at 25 cts in paper covers, one at 75 cts with four copied engravings, and a third at $1.50—with the engravi[n]g[s] complete, imported impressions. Furthermore whether you have received a letter from me by the same steamer; you make no reference to it in your notes, and this leads me to fear that both yours and Mr. Horne’s have gone astray.
I am glad and sorry to see you at the head of the modern contributions to [‘]‘Hymns for the Sick-Room,” [11] glad that they give your worth and goodness a place of honor, but sorry that you should have ever been called to dip your pen, of too profound and intimate a knowledge, in such themes.
Believe me, my dear Miss Barrett, with something of a new pride in your achievements, mixed with the old regard,
Sincerely & Faithfully, Yours
Cornelius Mathews.
To
Elizabeth B. Barrett,
London.
(Copy)
“Memorandum of agreement between H.G. Langley and C Mathews for the republication of Miss Barrett’s Poems.
H.G.L. will republish them as soon as possible after receipt of the sheets, in handsome style, having the privilege of insertion in the Dem. Review, with proper acknowledgement of the facts, and will allow to the author 10 per cent of the nett proceeds of the sales: the nett proceeds to be ascertained by deducting 25 per cent from the retail price of publication the 10 per centage, being estimated on the balance, for all copies sold. a/c sales to be rendered on the 1st July/45, and every six months thereafter: the first payment earlier than time specified if possible.
(Signed) Cornelius Mathews
Henry G. Langley
N York. June 21/44
In presence of F. Saunders” [12]
That is if the Poems are sold, say, at $2 per copy retail, you would receive 15 cts. each copy, and this as long as any are or can be sold by Langley.
C.M.
Address, on integral page: To / Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, / 50 Wimpole–Street / London.
Docket, in EBB’s hand: American publisher’s / Agreement for Poems– / 1844.
Publication: BBIS-23, pp. 36–37 (in part).
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. John Louis O’Sullivan (1813–95), a journalist and diplomat, was the editor of The United States Magazine, and Democratic Review from 1841–46.
2. Byron’s poem, published in 1817.
3. As previously noted (letter 1572, note 3), the project was discontinued after only one issue.
4. The first issue of The Home Library was entitled The White Footed Deer and other Poems (1844) by William Cullen Bryant.
5. The square brackets here and following are the writer’s. For the text of this “Introductory Note by the Editor,” see p. 319.
6. A partnership of Edward L. Carey (1805–45) and Abraham Hart (1810–85), formed by the subdivision in 1829 of Carey, Lea, & Carey, which had been under the direction of Henry Charles Carey (1793–1879).
7. Henry G. Langley was the publisher of The United States Magazine, and Democratic Review from 1841 until 1845.
8. Mathews did review the new volumes in the October 1844 issue (pp. 370–377). For the text of his review, see pp. 340–345.
9. Salathiel (1829) was the principal work of George Croly (1780–1860). The Athenæum did not make the suggested comparison.
10. For Horne’s comment, see letter 1654.
11. EBB’s name headed the list of modern authors in an advertisement of Hymns and Poems for the Sick and Suffering (1844), compiled by Thomas Vincent Fosbery (The Athenæum, 1 June 1844, no. 866, p. 510), which Mathews apparently saw. The volume contained five of her poems: “Comfort”; “Bereavement”; “Reparation”; “Consolation”; and “The Sleep.” Three of these titles had appeared in The Seraphim, but “Comfort” and “Reparation” were stated by the editor to be previously unpublished; “Reparation,” however, was first published in Graham’s Magazine, December 1842, without a title. Both were included in Poems (1844), the latter retitled “Substitution.” The editor stated in his introduction that “Nothing has been taken from the writings of any living poet without the author’s express permission.”
12. The original contract document is now at Wellesley (see Reconstruction, D1462).
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