2016. Thomas Carlyle to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 11, 55–56.
Chelsea,
31 augt, 1845
Dear Browning,
I have got a little enfranchised from this miserable job of mine; and did calculate very confidently on getting out to Hatcham one day before I went; but alas at last it turns out impossible. [1] I am in a perfect abyss of small whirling details, neglected these many months; my horse is off to winter-quarters tomorrow; I myself have to go on Wednesday morning: in brief there will be no seeing of you till I come back. However, that will not be very long, I hope.
One of these afternoons a strange figure drew Priam’s curtains, [2] —awakened me from my siesta: our friend Field of the Royal Mint! [3] He has been as good as his word, after all. Never yet got sight of Heroes Worshipped; it is so terribly undiscoverable in the Book Clubs; is still trying for it;—will emphatically recommend this new Work in those establishments: do I still want any views of Newhall? [4] any details of the Cheshunt Cromwells, of the ——?— Poor fellow, I could have burst into loud laughter in the face of him, and almost into tears too:—but got him off without either of these explosions. To think that Hy Cromwell is now represented by this! Surely some of the females must have committed a mistake? Otherwise genealogy is worth almost nothing.
My Wife will be here again in ten days. Pray call for her; she will tell you my news.
Yours always truly
T. Carlyle
Address: R. Browning Esq / Hatcham / Surrey.
Publication: Carlyle, 19, 184–185.
Manuscript: University of California at Berkeley.
1. See SD1233 and SD1234.
2. Cf. II Henry IV, I, 1, 72.
3. i.e., Henry William Field, the owner of the letter from Cromwell to his son, which Carlyle included in Oliver Cromwell’s Letters and Speeches (1845); see letter 1839, note 1.
4. In letter 1839 Carlyle had asked RB to tell Field that he did “not need the ‘view of Newhall’.” Field’s grandmother was the half-sister of Oliver Cromwell (1742–1821) of Cheshunt. Her great-grandfather was Henry Cromwell (1628–74), the fourth son of the Protector.
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