3172. EBB to Arabella Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 18, 341–347.
[Florence]
[Postmark: 2 March 1853]
<***> Chapman wants to bring out a third edition of my poems directly, [1] & I am deep in the corrections– As there is least to do to the second volume Robert has set me to that, and it is going off to England directly. The second edition is out. When the first volume is done with, I shall go back to my poem-novel [2] .. which I am about now. It is a poem of the times & for the times, & I mean everything to be found in it. Written in blank verse– Robert’s work is a collection of Lyrics [3] in which he will assert himself as an original writer I dare say—there will be in them a good deal of Italian art .. pictures, music. Both he & I mean to make a success if we can. Revising my two thick volumes of poems, I observe, Arabel, .. I am impelled to observe, that the readers who have pretended to see in them the views of Swedenborg, are by no means so wrong. There is a strong leaning to the peculiarities of his spiritual philosophy everywhere, to a degree quite curious in a writer who was at that time ignorant of them specifically. This illustrates the sort of sympathy & attraction which his books find in me– I am far from accepting Swedenborg as an infallible teacher. But he has been deeply misrepresented—even by some of his admirers:—and, for the rest, that there is a depth of spiritual insight in the man, worthy of meditation & reverence, I do maintain. Robert & I have been reading in quite another direction lately, .. Heath on the apocalypse [4] .. which is clever certainly, though I dont admire it as much as Robert does. It takes the dense material view of the personal reign at Jerusalem—rather like the Newman street churches, with a difference though! Robert & Mr Tennyson were immensely struck with it—but for myself I look for another sort of solution to prophecy. That ever Israel will be restored as a temporal Kingdom, I do entirely doubt. I think the time is passed for Jew or Gentile. A type is not to be resumed after the fulfilment of that very type—and the Kingdom of Israel was the type (as all agree) of the Christian church: we do not go backwards. Yet I never would dispute on subjects of this kind, & it seems to me that the N.S. churches, right or wrong, give too much importance to their views. Will anyone who really loves Christ, not rejoice in whatever mode of manifestation may please Him? Therefore it is the love, & not the theory about the mode & time of coming, which is important, I think. We shall all “love His appearing” [5] —shall we not? Yes, indeed. But I look to other modes, higher & more spiritual—not more unreal, mind! So it seems to me. As to dear Mary Hunter, I do not fear for her any evil influence– I have no sympathy (just as you have none) with the ecclesiastical opinions of the N.S. churches .. I am not drawn to them in the least on the points of dogma & discipline you mention. Still, I think I have more tenderness to them personally, .. I believe there is more light & good & Christliness in those churches than you are aware of– I think they are wide & liberal .. large hearted more than is customary among Christian denominations– Also (dont be angry, Arabel) I am by no means sure that they may not be in the reception of partial spiritual teaching, superhumanly given– I am not sure—having heard nothing myself I am not in a position to give an opinion .. but I think it very possible than [sic, for that] in their assemblies or in any other earnest & faithful assembly, such communications may be permitted. Which, if it were so, would by no means persuade me of their infallibility as churches. Now you may think that a contradiction—but I seem to see the case clearly– As to Mary, if she is but competent to the situation, she will like it & be the better for it I dare say– She is sure to meet with justice, truth, integrity, even kindness & affectionateness– Still it seems to me likely that she will not be influenced to their ways of thinking. Mr Owen, with all his excellence, is too authoritative, & high priestly. I should prefer as a teacher (if I chose either, which is far from me) Mr Carré of Paris. Oh—I know what they all think of the American spirits– [6] But that seems to me a thing much taken for granted– There are good & evil perhaps—foolish & intelligent—a great mixture of kinds. You can scarcely go wrong when you dont think wrong or intend wrong in such a matter. To invoke spirits in the name of the Devil is one thing—but what God permits us to investigate, while we fear & love Him, can scarcely be more objectionable in psychology than in mineralogy. Isabella Blagden writes to me that Sir Lytton Bulwer told her he considered the kinds of spirit to be inferior for the most part—in fact, not much better, some of them, than tormenting fairies who could instruct us in nothing important. I am very curious about the facts, important or unimportant—& must get nearer to them somehow. I shall try every means—use every opportunity lawful, for I must satisfy myself one way or the other on the subject. Meanwhile I dont believe in fairies (“up to this time”?) but I will talk of something else lest you set me down as mad. No, I am not mad, most noble Festus, [7] indeed.
Where are we thinking of going this summer? Guess. To Constantinople. The American minister there, recalled as far as Florence by the change of Presidency, [8] but likely to return, has been urging us to pay him a visit there for a few weeks—he sees scarcely any but diplomatic society, & thinks we should like it—which certainly we should do. Mr Marsh has an invalid wife, pretty & interesting, who is quite fanatical about my poetry—so they made their way to us, & have spent evening after evening with us,—she lying on the sofa, & he condescending from the heights of his ambassadorial dignity to Wilson’s knead cakes. I hear that we have not disappointed them, which is highly satisfactory. She particularly desired to have a visit from Wiedeman, so I sent him one morning. He did not like going—but I persuaded him at last on the ground that he would’nt be invited to Constantinople if he did’nt show himself—yes, and he was’nt in the least shy .. on the contrary, said Wilson, “most amusing.” They showed him some books of oriental engravings & he made various observations on them—“he had seen waterfalls,” he said, “sometimes in the mountains”—& he had “seen camels in Paris, & a man with a black face leading them”– In fact he related various illustrative details of his travels, & made a deep impression, & was invited to Constantinople with a promise that he should have a boat all to himself everyday, and six men dressed in white with white turbans to row it– Which Penini is looking forward to with considerable complacency. Dont be too much afraid, Arabel! It takes money to get to Constantinople– Otherwise I am sure we should go–
I am very glad you have been reading some amusing books. I think I have been more grave than usual in respect to books. I have been going through an improving course of socialism, Proudhonism, & Louis Blanc-ism, which in conjunction with my other isms Arabel, will be effective. But I have read heaps of novels since I came to Florence, too. Did you consider ‘Agatha’s Husband’ an improvement or a falling off from Miss Mulock’s Head of the family &c? [9] No woman, .. no man .. ever had such a triumph as Mrs Beecher Stowe—and I rejoice in it,—for the good done will be great in many ways. Mr Hanna is pleased because of its being a means of teaching scriptural christianity here in Italy, where it is read everywhere by permission of the authorities. As to Mazzini he is not doing well. A deplorable catastrophe is the result of his proclamation, & no sort of good to anybody. [10] A more unwise man has seldom been gifted before with so much energy & virtue. For Kossuth, I am on my guard against believing him, when he disowns the paper published under his name. [11] Kossuth is not true, from all I hear of him. The Marsh’s who saw much of him at Constantinople, speak of him painfully. [12] I never did trust much in that man. He seemed to me from the beginning to want truth.
What do I think of Napoleon’s marriage? Well—I like it. And I consider it highly characteristic. You will all think better of him one day. I have not modified my opinion. Penini takes quite a different view from yourself of the “unfortunate Eugenie.” He says, “I sint Napoleon’s wife muss lite it velly mush.” When he heard that Napoleon had a wife, at last, he clasped his hands & exclaimed—“oh, I so glad!” He had deeply sympathized in the disappointment about the Princess Wasa, particularly as “poor Napoleon” had bought her shoes! what an expense! He plays on the piano a loud martial piece of music, which he calls “Napoleon”– Then he says, “Now I play Napoleon’s wife” .. which he performs with the softest notes– What an idea for a child! Besides that, he has ‘prayer-music’. He has his own ideas, I assure you.
Robert observed the other day that God sent the rain to do good to the plants. “Yes,” Wiedeman said, “and gentle Jesus sends the wind to make the windmills turn round & make Penini some bread.” On which, I interrupted .. “Jesus is God, you know.” “Oh, les!” he cried eagerly .. “I tand, (understand) Mama! Gentle Jesus only a name!” There’s theology for you. Somebody asked him how old he was .. “I dont know, but I been a long time at Flolence.” If ever he goes into the churches, he kneels down in his old way– “Well! I been to lurch. I said mine players for Mama & Papa.” He dances quite curiously well with such steps & gestures! We were admiring him the other day, & observing one to another that nobody ever taught him such a thing.– “No,” said the child breaking in suddenly, “nomony! (nobody)– But I sint God helps me to do it.” Such a darling never was.
I am scarcely anxious about Surtees’s letter. [13] Of course no notice will be taken. I should have said “dear Sir” if I had been Surtees—but all is of no use, & really it is difficult to decide which is the best kind of inutility. Sad at heart I am when I think of Papa! sad—sad. Tell me how he is now the cold has begun. It seems to be very severe with you. Arabel, as I am not in mourning for the Ad[d]ams’s .. (poor Miss Ad[d]ams! I am sorry for her severe trial nevertheless) [14] I am wearing your gown .. the thick one .. & it will please your dear goodness to know how exquisitely comfortable it is. I never liked a winter gown so much. I do hope you have one for yourself, & dont mean to brave the cold in silk, which would be very wrong of you.— Say how you are, dearest! While I think of it let me tell you that the “unfortunate Eugenie” fainted twice just before the marriage, when the “coiffeur” was engaged on her hair. [15] People tell us all sorts of good of her. “Kindness of heart to the uttermost”—“very decided opinions”—“brave & bold when necessary.” She shoots with pistols, leaps a five barred gate, drives four in hand, & thinks nothing of upsetting the carriage for a freak. Some years ago she fell in love with a man who had not a sou & was without rank; & her mother had immense difficulty in breaking through her intentions. She said “I have money enough for two.”– I like everything I have heard of her. As to charity she would give away everything down to her shoeties,—they say. A good deal of this came through the Duchesse de … something [16] .. I forget .. who had known her intimately from childhood, & who, while she objected to L Napoleon’s marrying “so much below him,” observed that if he was bent on a mesalliance, he could not have chosen better at least. The Hedleys are gone to Rome. She expects her confinement in the course of the summer– [17] I have known it some time, but was desired to be discreet. We did not see a very great deal of them—dont let me mislead you. You know they were engaged night after night in Florence society, in which we have neither part nor lot. Robert likes him much for his gentlemanliness, frankness & goodnature,—& we both like her—though there is not much in her, Arabel—& as to the singing, if you call it pleasing you praise it. She has little voice, & no execution—in fact, the singing is quite without pretension. I cant imagine how aunt Jane could speak as she did.– I fear that our poor balia is going very wrong! It quite grieves me. She keeps away from us as much as she can—& Penini is offended, I suppose, at this, & has quite lost his love for her. He told me the other day, “I not lite Balia. Her face too fat—not pretty!” “I said .. So, if Mama were to grow fat you would not love her.” He paused a moment & resumed very earnestly—“Mama! dont tate too mush of lis oil! I not lite you to have a glate fat tomach lite Balia.”
Ah– I must tell you—He said—“Mama, I lite to write a letter to God to ask him to come down & let me see Him. I lite to see gentle Jesus’s face so velly, velly mush!” I told him some people thought that gentle Jesus would come before long—which seemed to comfort the child extremely. So he “loves His appearing”, [18] you see, without belonging to Newman Street! Arabel, your letter he had read over to him again & again. He quite understood the whole, & keeps it in his desk as a treasure. He remembers & talks much of you all. Tell me how dearest Trippy is, & kiss her well for me– What about her house? Where is George? Bid him write to me! Robert loves you dearly. He says “Arabel is a perfect woman, I consider. Her only fault really is that she annihilates herself for others.” Quite true!– Do you hear of Mrs Orme? Will you send Lady Elgin’s books [19] to Mr Reuben Browning with a note to ask him to send them to Paris by the first opportunity? His address is .. Messrs Rothschild, New Court, St Swithin’s Lane. Lady E’s parcel enclose in one to aunt Jane, .. 12 Rue d’Astorg Faubourg St Honoré Paris– Your own Ba ever. Read ‘La petite Fadette,’ by G Sand. [20]
Address: Angleterre viâ France. / Miss Barrett / 50. Wimpole Street / London.
Publication: EBB-AB, I, 542–548.
Manuscript: Gordon E. Moulton-Barrett.
1. The third edition of EBB’s Poems was published on 15 October 1853.
2. Aurora Leigh.
4. The Future Human Kingdom of Christ; or, Man’s Heaven to Be This Earth, (2 vols., 1852–53) by Dunbar Isidore Heath (1816–88), an English cleric who was deprived of his living in 1862 as a result of his controversial teachings (DNB). At the time of this letter, only volume one had been published.
5. II Timothy 4:8.
6. EBB had reported in letter 3038 that Carré thought “they were assuredly evil spirits.”
7. Acts 26:25.
8. See letter 3167, notes 21 and 22.
9. Agatha’s Husband by Dinah Mulock was published in December 1852 with an 1853 imprint.
10. An unsuccessful revolt had occurred at Milan on 6 February 1853. Partly engineered by Mazzini, it was quickly put down by Austrian troops and led to a number of repressive measures being imposed on the city’s populace. A proclamation written by Mazzini had been seen around Milan on the day of the fighting. A translation of it, published in The Daily News of 10 February 1853, included the following exhortations: “Italians! Brothers!—The mission of the National Italian Committee is ended: your mission begins. To-day the last word which we, your brothers, utter to you is ‘Insurrection’; to-morrow, mingling with the ranks of the people, we will aid you to maintain it. … Soldiers, women, youths, people! let us have for the moment but one heart, one thought, one desire, one cry in our souls, one cry on our lips, ‘We will have a country; we will have an Italy; and an Italy shall be’” (p. 4). Mazzini was near Milan during the revolt. Afterwards, he made his way secretly to Lugano, Switzerland, where he remained hidden “for three months in a single room with the curtains permanently drawn” (Denis Mack Smith, Mazzini, New Haven, Conn., 1994, p. 102).
11. Accompanying the translation of Mazzini’s proclamation in The Daily News of 10 February, was another translated proclamation, one allegedly written by Lajos Kossuth and posted in Milan at the time of the revolt. It was an appeal to Hungarians serving in the Austrian army to aid the Italians in their fight and included a warning to those who remained loyal to Austria: “He, the hireling of our country’s executioner, shall nevermore see his native land; he shall be for ever exiled as a traitor, as one who has sold the blood … of his country to the enemy” (p. 4). On 18 February, The Daily News published a letter from Mayne Reid (1818–83), Irish-born writer of romance and adventure stories, stating that the proclamation was not by Kossuth. The next day, the newspaper carried a letter from Kossuth to Reid that confirmed the latter’s assertion: “I was just about myself to publish a formal disavowal of that ‘proclamation to the Hungarian soldiers’”; however, he admitted that he could not “disavow the sentiments contained in that document” (19 February 1853, p. 5).
12. After the fall of Hungary’s revolutionary government in the summer of 1849, Kossuth fled to Turkey where his family joined him in a state of benign imprisonment. He eventually persuaded Marsh to help him and his fellow revolutionists obtain asylum in America, and Marsh reluctantly agreed, hoping to demonstrate American resolve against Austrian oppression. When Kossuth managed to leave his U.S.-bound ship at La Spezia, Marsh was angered but not surprised. “For Kossuth personally he had no use whatever. He considered the Hungarian’s selfishness and egotism boundless; to these traits he now added ingratitude” (David Lowenthal, George Perkins Marsh: Versatile Vermonter, New York, 1958, p. 128).
13. Doubtless a letter attempting reconciliation with his father-in-law, which probably contained news of the birth of Mary Altham Cook.
14. Arabella Addams (née Bishop, 1787–1853), wife of Jesse Addams (1786–1871), died on 10 February; she was EBB’s first cousin, once removed. “Miss Ad[d]ams” refers to the deceased’s eldest daughter, Arabella Addams (1820–1908), who later married William Surtees Cook after Henrietta’s death.
15. We have been unable to verify EBB’s account of Eugénie fainting, but according to her biographer, at least one journalist observed that she looked unwell after the event: “… the man from The Times, while conceding that Eugénie’s ‘demeanour throughout was of one accustomed to a high station’, nevertheless noticed that she appeared ‘agitated’, that just before signing the register ‘she trembled for a moment’ before she took the pen. Next morning, two hours before setting out for Notre-Dame, she hurriedly wrote a brief note to Paca [her sister] in which she said that ‘yesterday’s ceremony was superb, but I just missed being ill before we entered the room where we signed’” (Harold Kurtz, The Empress Eugénie: 1826–1920, 1964, p. 56).
16. We have been unable to identify EBB’s source.
17. Alice Jane Hedley, daughter of Robin and Charlotte Hedley, was born on 27 August 1853 in Brighton.
18. Cf. II Timothy 4:8.
20. La Petite Fadette (1849) was one of Sand’s “rustic novels,” dealing with superstition and love.
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