1702. EBB to Thomas Westwood
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 9, 119–120.
[London]
August 31, 1844.
My dear Mr Westwood,
I send you the m.s. you ask for, [1] and also my certificate that although I certainly was once a little girl, yet I never in my life had fair hair or received lessons when you mention. I think a cousin of mine, now dead, may have done it. [2] The “Barrett Barrett” seems to specify my family,—I have a little cousin with bright fair hair at this moment who is an Elizabeth Barrett (the subject of my “Portrait”) but then she is a “Georgiana” besides, [3] and your friend must refer to times past. My hair is very dark indeed, and always was, as long as I remember, and also I have a friend who makes serious affidavit that I have never changed (except by being rather taller) since I was a year old. Altogether you cannot make a case of identity out, and I am forced to give up the glory of being so long remembered for my cleverness.
You do wrong in supposing me inclined to underrate Mr Melville’s power. He is inclined to High-Churchism and to such doctrines as apostolical succession and I who am a dissenter, and a believer in a Universal Christianity recoil from the exclusive doctrine.
But then, that is not depreciatory of his power and eloquence—surely not!
E. B.
Publication: LEBB, I, 190–191.
Source: Kenyon Typescript, British Library.
1. An autograph copy of “A Claim in an Allegory,” not traced (see letter 1697).
3. EBB’s cousin, Georgiana Elizabeth (“Lizzie”) Barrett was the subject of the poem “A Portrait,” which appeared in Poems (1844).
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