3242. EBB to Hiram Powers
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 19, 203–204.
—Casa Tolomei
(alla Villa)
Bagni di Lucca–
August 1– [1853] [1]
My dear Mr Powers,
We have this moment had a letter from our friend of the Athenæum, [2] who says .. “I write a word in acknowledgement of yours with its interesting enclosure from Mr Powers, which will appear before long, it being one of the communications which is of perennial & not temporary interest, & which must of necessity be postponed to the topics which crowd the season.” [3]
He goes on to apologize for not having said this “weeks ago,” & indeed there is need. Robert & I had settled down into a chronic indignation on the subject. For my part I had begun to conclude seriously that there was to be no place in the Athenæum henceforward for art or philosophy … only for Faraday! [4]
I was, we both were, very sorry to miss seeing you on that last evening, but I suppose you could not manage to come– We find here our friends the Storys who were supposed to be in Rome, & dropped down on us from the top of the mountain. We have spent one or two pleasant evenings together. He has been powerful he says, in Rome, in the table-turning, but could produce no intelligent significances by knocks or otherwise. He deals too a little in the mystical handwriting,—but as he is by no means clear whether it is voluntary or involuntary action, &as considerable consciousness accompanies the formation of the words, even I [5] disbelieve!—there is no sort of excuse for being credulous– At best it is a weak & undeveloped faculty. He is a little sceptical about the spirits .. & leans to the clairvoyance theory .. of brain acting on brain, & self projection. I wish you would make your way through the hills to us, that we may all have a good talk together on this subject. The Storys are here for the whole summer & autumn– How glad we should all be to see you!
My love to Mrs Powers & the children. [6] Our little Penini is in paradise with the garden & the mountains, & the donkeys. He is growing rosy & fatter besides– Yet it is very hot during the day. At night one can breathe & sleep,—there is cool air.
If you have any new information about the spirits, I will ask you to remember me here in the wilderness & send me a letter. With our united warm regards, believe me, dear Mr Powers,
Most truly yours always
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library, Michael Meredith Collection.
1. Year provided by reference to the return address. The only year the Brownings resided at Casa Tolomei was 1853.
2. Henry Chorley. Letter 3246 is EBB’s reply.
3. Powers’s article, “Colour in Sculpture,” appeared in The Athenæum on 24 December 1853 (no. 1365, pp. 1559–1560).
4. The Athenæum had published an expanded version of Michael Faraday’s letter to The Times (see letter 3224, note 5) in the 2 July 1853 issue (no. 1340, pp. 801–803). Two weeks later, the journal addressed the following item to correspondents who had written letters on table-turning: “We continue to receive a host of communications on this subject,—but have no intention of opening our columns to the discussion. Our own views are expressed generally in the letter of Prof. Faraday … which is the first contribution that the Athenæum has made to the subject. If we may judge, nevertheless, of the strong hold which it has taken of the public mind from what we see passing around us, and from the flood of communication which pours in upon ourselves, it will soon need a journal to itself:—and for this our Correspondents may reserve their communications” (16 July 1853, no. 1342, p. 866).
5. Underscored twice.
6. The Powerses had eight surviving children. The most recently born were Edward Everett (1851–1923) and Ellen Elizabeth (1853–1933). For the other six children, see letter 2913, note 7.
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