2743. Mary Russell Mitford to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 15, 120–122.
Taplow,
July 30, 1848.
I have taken so much of your advice, my very dear love, as Mr. May thought right—that is to say, the part that regarded change of air and change of scene. He said that the sea, in my particular case, would be rather bad than good, and advised a short journey, where I could have my pony chaise among interesting scenery, and not beyond reach of him. Accordingly here I am, about twenty miles from home—in a pretty house, with our rooms opening on a garden full of trees and flowers, which goes down to the Thames (we have our own private stairs and landing from the little terrace), and the beautiful old bridge just below. A prettier English scene does not exist. I have already driven to Ockwells, [1] the beautiful old hall of the Norreys, part of which is just as it was in the reign of Henry the Sixth—and that part the most important—the banquet hall, with its dais and music-gallery and long range of painted windows—the open galleries, buttery hatch, porch and gables, with the exquisite carving of their fretted roof as delicate as a lady’s fan. Then I have been (where I have permission to go every day) through Lord Orkney’s noble woods to Cliefden Spring [2] —a woody acclivity (of I am afraid to say what height) on one side, and the bright river on the other—the actual
“Cliefden’s proud alcove,” [3]
where Lady Shrewsbury held her lover the Duke of Buckingham’s horse, while he fought with and killed her husband. Then to Burnham Beeches—a piece of forest scenery hardly to be matched in England, whether as regards the ground or the magnificent trees. Then to the vaults at Lady Place, [4] where the Revolution of 1688 was hatched, and which looks just fit for such a holy conspiracy, standing, as it does now, with the old mansion taken down, in the midst of its romantic lawn. All these I have seen, and to-morrow I am going to Dropmore; [5] and I am more improved in health and strength and spirits than I had thought possible.
One reason why I am so much better here is, that I have only one female friend (and that a very favourite one) within reach—half of my worries proceeding from a quantity of tiresome visitors. Some I have seen this summer who are not tiresome—the Miss Goldsmids, Sir Isaac Goldsmid’s daughters. The eldest is a very remarkable woman, [6] and she spoke of Mr. Browning with great interest, as having been at the London University with her brothers. Also Mr. Ruskin [7] spoke of some vintage verses of his as singularly true to nature; and his praise is worth having. He is a most charming person, but was, when I last heard of him, laid up at Salisbury. I fear for his health, and so does his mother. [8]
Ah! my dear love, I have nothing but fear for France. As to Lamartine, I never did expect any good from him; except “Les Girondins,” [9] I always detested his writings—so weak and wordy and full of vanity. And “Les Girondins,” they say, is untrue beyond the usual untruthfulness of history—a mere party pamphlet. When he was in London a few years ago Mr. Rogers asked him, with strong interest, to give him some details about Béranger, “the greatest French poet.” “Ah! Béranger,” said M. de Lamartine, “he made advances to me, and, of course, wished for my acquaintance; but he is a sort of man with whom I do not choose to have any connexion!” Think of that! Mr. Rogers told the story himself, with the greatest indignation, to the Ruskins, [10] and they told it to me.
Dumas has been in England with his Théâtre Historique—the whole company—playing ‘Monte Christo’ (which takes two evenings) at Drury Lane. [11] To the great disgrace of our people, authors and actors, the French troop were hissed off. I am told that what astonished him most in our country was to find what a number of persons (turnpike commissioners, county magistrates, deputy lieutenants, &c.) exercised their offices gratuitously; but the poverty of the French would not admit of their working for nothing. It is wonderful how poor they all seem. Dumas’ last works are “Les Quarante Cinq,” “De Paris à Cadiz,” and a book on Algiers. [12] Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton has just brought out an historical novel called “Harold”—good as history, but dull as a story. [13] Bentley gave fifteen hundred pounds for the copyright—an immense sum. Mr. Kingsley’s play upon Elizabeth of Hungary, “The Saint’s Tragedy,” [14] is really fine and striking, but miserably painful to read; the more so, as the most disgusting parts are literally true.
I shall be returning to Three Mile Cross in about ten days or a fortnight, having by that time, if it please God, laid in a stock of health for the winter. God bless you, my beloved friend! A pleasant excursion to Mr. Browning.
Ever most faithfully yours,
M. R. Mitford.
Text: L’Estrange (2), III, 210–212.
1. Ockwells Manor, a medieval hall house 1¼ miles S. of Bray, built for Sir John Norreys (d. 1466), Keeper of the Great Wardrobe of Henry VI.
2. Cliveden, a large country estate on the Thames about 3 miles N.E. of Maidenhead, near Windsor, was built by George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, as a hunting lodge. Its second owner was George Hamilton (1666–1737), 1st Earl of Orkney; ownership of Cliveden passed from the earldom of Orkney in 1824.
3. Cf. Pope, Moral Essays (1735), III, 307. During the famous 17th-century duel between the Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Shrewsbury, the Countess of Shrewsbury is alleged to have played page and held the Duke’s horse while he killed her husband. Burnham Beeches is an ancient woodland, located midway between Slough and Beaconsfield, known for its pollarded beeches and popular as a rendezvous for artists, poets, and young lovers.
4. Located 3 miles S.W. of Great Marlow, near Hurley, Lady Place was the seat of the Barons Lovelace. John Lovelace (1638?–93), 3rd Baron Lovelace, provided meeting space in the crypt for plotting against James II. The house was pulled down in the 1830’s.
5. Village and seat S.W. of Beaconsfield.
6. Anna Maria Goldsmid (1805–89), daughter of Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid (1778–1859), was an energetic philanthropist and translator. She had two brothers: Francis Henry (1808–78) and Frederick David (1812–66), but only the latter was educated at The London University (later University College). Sir Isaac was one of the chief supporters of that institution, purchasing the original tract of land.
7. John Ruskin (1819–1900), art and social critic, became a correspondent of Miss Mitford’s after visiting her in January 1847.
8. Margaret Ruskin (née Cock, changed to Cox, 1781–1871).
9. Histoire des Girondins (1847).
10. John Ruskin and his wife Euphemia Chalmers Ruskin (née Gray, afterwards Millais, 1828–97) who had married at Perth on 10 April 1848. In a letter to Mrs. Tindal, dated 6 August 1848, Miss Mitford wrote: “He [Ruskin] brought his beautiful young wife to see me about a fortnight ago” (Chorley, II, 24).
12. Dumas produced two books as a result of his visit to Algiers in 1846, the first of which was De Paris à Cadix (1848); the second, La Véloce, was not published until 1851. Les Quarante-cinq (8 vols., 1847–48) is the last in the historical series known as the “Valois cycle,” begun in 1845.
13. Harold, the Last of the Saxon Kings (1848).
14. The Saint’s Tragedy; or, the True Story of Elizabeth of Hungary by Charles Kingsley (1819–75), who was the Rector of Eversley, 5 miles S.E. of Three Mile Cross. Both this play and his novel Yeast, published in the same year, express his strong anti-Catholicism.
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