1813. EBB to Julia Martin
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 10, 20–21.
[London]
Saturday. Jan. [11] 1844. [sic, for 1845] [1]
I must tell you, my dearest Mrs Martin—Mr Kenyon has read to me an extract from a private letter—addressed by H Martineau to Moxon the publisher, .. to the effect that … Lord Morpeth was down on his knees in the middle of the room a few nights ago, in the presence of the somnambule J___ & conversing with her in Greek & Latin—that .. the four Miss Liddels were also present, .. & that .. they five talked to her during one séance in five foreign languages, .. viz .. Latin, Greek, French, Italian & German. When the mesmerizer touches the organ of imitation on J___’s head, while the strange tongue is in the course of being addressed to her, she translates into English word for word, what is said—but when the organ of language is touched, she simply answers in English, what is said– [2]
My “few words of comment” upon this, are, that I feel to be more & more standing on my head——which does not mean, you will be pleased to observe .. that I understand.
Well—and how are you both going on? My voice is quite returned—& Papa continues, I am sorry to say, to have a bad cold & cough. He means to stay in the house today & try what prudence will do.
We have heard from Henry at Alexandria still, but a few days before sailing—& he & Stormie are bringing home as a companion to Flushie, a beautiful little gazelle. What do you think of it? I would rather have it than the “babby,” though the flourish of trumpets on the part of the possessors, seems quite in favor of the latter. [3]
And I had a letter from Browning the poet last night, which threw me into ecstasies—Browning the author of Paracelsus & king of the mystics.
George saw & dined with the Commelines at three oclock, & heard Miss C.’s private opinion that Ld Eastnor is a whig at heart. Then he passed some pleasant days at the Bartons, & says <***>
Publication: LEBB, I, 236 (in part).
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Dated by internal reference to having received a letter from RB the day before.
3. EBB’s brothers, Henry and Charles John (Stormie), were sailing on their father’s ship, the Statira, which had left England the previous August (see letter 1701) and which returned in April 1845 (see no. 1891).
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