1542. EBB to Thomas Westwood
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 8, 220–222.
[London]
Wednesday [21–24 February 1844] [1]
Thank you, my dear Mr Westwood. I received my book, [2] —& also your’s .. of the Melvill discourses, [3] —and indeed I cannot comply with your request & increase my want of courtesy by a significant silence. That you shd forgive me for the long pause, is a proof sufficient, of your willingness to be at peace with me,—& I accept it thankfully as such— ......
I had written a sentence or two of this begun ‘palinodia’ two days ago; & then I broke off,—was forced to break off until now––saturday. You are quite right in imagining me as busy, as mortal woman (very mortal indeed!) can fear to be: but you are quite wrong, unhappily, in your vision of printer’s devilry, & the rest of the consummation. Not a proof have I had yet—(except the aforesaid one of your mercy towards me!) .. not a single sign of communion between me & the bookseller. I am not so far yet. I have been finishing a long poem, [4] longer than the ‘Seraphim,’ which is to lead the cohort,—& have been absolutely absorbed in it, .. away from everything save the resolution of having my book out this spring, in spite of the stars. It shall be out, if I live & retain my liberty. So, if it will not tire you, keep your hands held out a little longer–! Will you?
Yes—I see that I am to be in Mr Horne’s exhibition,—and he even applied to me for an illustrative portrait,—which I declined the honour of, by a discreet instinct. His book will probably be a very interesting work; & the more probably, or rather certainly so, as I suspect that the “edited by Mr Horne” is a mere cover to the fact of the authorship belonging almost altogether, if not altogether, to himself. I suspect that he shelters himself, by the word “editor,” from the various arrows which an individual author wd be exposed to, in so pregnable a position. Not that he ever told me so, in so many words.
I see you reviewed, not unkindly, in the Athenæum today. [5] It is a notice which will help, I think, the circulation of your book—particularly as coming from the Athenæum, which is slow to praise,—as both poets & readers know! If you can tell me of favorable notices in other places, you will give me pleasure, believe me! Not that there has been much time yet, for such notices to spring up & grow.
Thank you, dear Mr Westwood!– I am glad to have faith in your kindness– This weather is too harsh for me, & blows me down (that & the work!) a little on one side. Still, I am not broken or bent flat yet,—but pretty tolerably moderately well for me,—& likely to revive with the next sunshine.
Ever sincerely yours
Elizabeth B Barrett.
I may keep & brood over Melvill a short time longer––may I not?
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: British Library.
1. This letter is in response to no. 1536. The inclusive dating is provided by EBB.
2. As EBB had acknowledged receipt of Beads from a Rosary in letter 1503, this reference is probably to the volume of Horne’s tragedies, lent to Westwood (see letter 1477) and mentioned by him in letter 1512.
3. It appears that Westwood had sent EBB a second volume of Melvill’s sermons, as the first volume had been delivered by hand (see letter 1490).
4. “A Drama of Exile.”
5. The Athenæum of 24 February carried a mainly favourable review of Beads from a Rosary, speaking of Westwood as “the gentle poet … [who] loves to look on nature” (no. 852, pp. 167–168).
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