1792. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 9, 290–291.
[London]
Christmas eve. 1844
My dearest friend
Your letter reached me half an hour after mine left me to go to you; and now I must write to assure you of my regret & pain in thinking of your being worse for having acceded to the wish of your friends to call in a physician. My only comfort is, that perhaps, when the immediate effect of the strong medecine has passed, you may be the better essentially for the temporary depression—I hope in this. Tell me how you continue to feel, my dearest Mr Boyd! And what physician, did you call in? And what did he say of you? I do wish you had told me that. I agree with you absolutely that a medical man acquainted with your constitution, has immense advantages over a stranger,—which I know by myself,—for, whenever I have had a new doctor, I have been worse for several weeks. If indeed Mr Giuseppe [1] were in difficulty,—if your case be an obscure one, & he doubt how to proceed in it, .. then, it would be right to have further advice. But can this be the case? I hope not. I have been saying to myself lately, that if you continued to be troubled by these lumbago pains, the reason was to be looked for in the severe weather,—& that presently you would revive like the snowdrops. Dearest friend, let me know by a line, how you feel. Perhaps today you are stronger again. Give me my Christmas wish,—& rather may God give it, .. & let me hear of your being better.
My thoughts are very near to you—and my affections still nearer.
I will take the liberty of sending Arabel’s love, though she is not in the house,—and, as for mine, I beg Jane to put it up with the holly tomorrow, in the nearest place to your chair.
Your affectionate & grateful
Elibet.
You are suffering like Job among your friends. Miserable comforters are we all! [2] —are we not?
Address: H S Boyd Esqr / 24 (a) Grove End Road / St John’s Wood.
Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 273–274.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Presumably the same Mr. Giuseppe mentioned in letter 588.
2. Cf. Job 16:2.
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