1886. Harriet Martineau to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 10, 161–163.
Birmingham
Monday [14 April 1845] [1]
Dear Miss Barrett
I cannot recal whether we have ever written at all about my beloved friend Mrs Follen. [2] How much you know of her,—of her unutterable affliction, her genius, noble character, & lastly, her sisterly affection for me, I don’t feel sure. I hope you are aware of enough of these to enjoy the following.
“E. Barrett’s Poems! How can I tell you what they have been—what they are to me! her Vision of the Poets—her Sonnets—her Rhapsody of Life’s Progress—O! & many others—how have they .. kindled my soul! It seems to me as if they inspired me with a new life. I want to speak to her,—I want to pour out my heart, & give her the homage of my deep admiration (if I might dare I wd say love) of her beautiful soul, as I see it, & know it, & rejoice in it in these volumes. There is none of the modern poetry to be compared to it in my estimation. She often wants melody in her song, but never truth, nature, immortal energy, & intense beauty & loveliness,—I mean in her best pieces. There is a great differce in them. None are ordinary. O! bless her for the good she does my soul! She takes me away from wearing duties, never-ending painful recollections,—aching head, & often aching heart. Bless her again & again”!
It is only the stereotyped edition of my Tales that is reissued. [3] No,—no additions, & (from principle in such a case) no alterations. — No—I am not thinking of another romance. I plan no work at present,—except (entre nous) [4] finishing the story of my life wh I did at Tynemth as far as the age of 13. [5] People don’t seem to care for my novels as they do about my other writings,—except a few who are wondered at for their warmth. The chief demand seems to be for more “Playfellows”: & I may probably do more of those when I next feel the need of that sort of utterance. But this year, my longings are all for fresh air, beauty & idleness,—a yearning wh I do not fear to indulge, because I know the need to work will recur quite soon enough. I am rather fond of “Deerbrook,” [6] I will own to you. So you may conceive how pleasant your words about it are to me.
Wordsworth was an educator of infinite value to me,—a worthy idol during many of the best years of my life. I do not think more highly of his works & mind as I grow older & learn more of the modes of thought & emotion of other national & indivl minds: & in his poetry I find my pleasures arise more from the echoes of old raptures than from new disclosures. But I do honour & love the poet very deeply. And Mrs Wordsworth is charming, you must remember. Every body bids me read the Improvisatore, [7] in like tone to yours. I will, if I get a sight of it.
Here comes Dr Ryall, [8] to talk over the curriculum of two great schools,—for the benefit of some friends of mine. I must stop. My love to you, my dear friend.
Yours ever affecly
H.M.–
Address: Miss Barrett / 50. Wimpole St / London.
Publication: Harriet Martineau: Selected Letters, ed. Valerie Sanders (Oxford, 1990), pp. 109–110 (as [18 April 1845]).
Manuscript: Yale University.
1. This letter is postmarked 15 April 1845, a Tuesday.
2. Eliza Follen (née Cabot, 1787–1860) was the wife of Dr. Charles Theodore Christian Follen (1796–1840), a German refugee who became a professor at Harvard only to lose his post because of his uncompromising abolitionism; Miss Martineau had met him when she was in Boston. Mrs. Follen’s “affliction” doubtless refers to her husband’s tragic death in the explosion of the steamboat “Lexington” on 13 January 1840.
4. “Between us.”
5. Miss Martineau’s Autobiography (3 vols.) was published in 1877, the year after her death; however, the first two volumes had been printed at Windermere in 1857.
6. Harriet Martineau’s novel, published in 1839.
8. John Ryall (1806–75) was the first headmaster, from 1838–46, of the Birmingham and Edgbaston Proprietary School. At the close of 1845 he was appointed to the post of Vice-President of Queen’s College, Cork.
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