1863. EBB to George Goodin Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 10, 122–123.
[London]
March 13 [sic, for 12], 1845 [1]
My dearest Georgie
I send you the ‘restored fragments’ of the poetry of the world, [2] & hope you may be able to translate them into all manner of pleasure & prosperity– In the meantime you grow misanthropical, .. more than becomes a chancellor futurus in rus, [3] .. & do moralize a most superfluous quantity of melancholy, methinks, on the ‘moral disabilities’ of the legal brotherhood. Why, what is the matter, George? Is it possible that the abuse of a friend is immelodious to your ear?—already?–
After all, when we come to analyze matters & motives, there is a very near turn, that, round the corner, of “generous emulation”,—and the scraping against [‘]‘malice, envy & all uncharitableness” [4] is the probable accident. Ambition is a selfish passion. “Alone, I did it.” [5] The essence of the ego, makes the spirit of it. And yet—I have always believed & shall believe, that true greatness rather climbs than jostles,—& that the greatest do not soil their coats & shoes in climbing. This, certainly in literature. In law, you must allow me to say that there is more room for dirt––it is more practical business––and the necessary condition of the successful candidate is not pure genius, but power of a more complex character– Hinc illæ iræ– [6]
Here is a letter from Brighton, which belongs to you according to its address. Today there has been a falling down of the wall of the drawingroom, & the revelation of a comfortable hole which permitted the approximation of deal boards & flue soot, & leaves all the world marvelling how it happens that we are not in cinders as a matter of course– The ‘smoke’ is more perfectly accountable.
Which reminds me of Alfred Tennyson—& that I agree to defer the disclosure, till it may be made with shut doors. Why you wish to undeify him to my imagination! That is wrong. Browning sent me another letter this morning. [7]
On thursday Trippy is ‘at home’ to a large concourse of fashionable company, inclusive of Peytons Nugents Barretts & the like, [8] .. & in order to be so, goes home to make lollepops [sic] on wednesday evening—today. You are aware that she is in your habitat, ‘at these presents.’ The Martins returned to Colwall yesterday;—Mrs M– not at all well, from a cold. The Peytons have not decided, it appears, on leaving London on saturday.
Shall you go to see Emma Munro again? [9] why not? she will be vexed to lose your visit.
All this, in great haste. It is my third letter—& Mr Kenyon is coming, .. & I must keep a little breath besides what is spent. Did Venables write the first Westminster article? [10] or who?
May God bless you ever & ever–
Your most attached
Ba–
Address: G Goodin Moulton Barrett Esqre / Barrister at Law / Oxford Circuit.
Publication: B-GB, pp. 131–133 (as 13 March 1845).
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. Dated by internal reference to “wednesday evening—today,” which would have been the 12th, and also by the postmark of 12 March 1845.
3. “Of a future country seat.”
4. Cf. the Litany in The Book of Common Prayer.
5. Coriolanus, V, 6, 116.
6. “Hence that wrath.”
8. Miss Trepsack’s address is given as 12 Beaumont Street, Devonshire Place, New Road, in EBB’s address book (see vol. 9, p. 388). EBB’s cousin, Samuel Barrett, and his family were lodging in the area; the Peytons were staying in 8 Rotten Row; and Maj. and Mrs. Henry Nugent lived in 38 Nottingham Place.
9. At Charlton Park, Gloucestershire, seat of her brother, Sir William Russell (1822–92). Emma had married, in April 1842, Theodore Monro, who died shortly after their child was born (see letter 1343).
10. The first article in the March 1845 issue of The Westminster Review is entitled “The French Economists: Turgot-Say” (pp. 1–39), and is signed “J.G.P.”; i.e., John George Phillimore. According to The Wellesley Index, the article is “attributed to Phillimore by a fellow-jurist, G. S. Venables, Journal, Mar 10, 1845.”
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