3335. EBB to Mary Brotherton
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 20, 97–98.
[Rome]
[ca. 9 February 1854] [1]
My dear Mrs Brotherton,
I have delayed writing through hoping to go & see you .. but I cant dare to keep the “leaves” any longer from the “Sybil.” [2] They are very wonderful. A certain significance seems to turn its face to the light & grope out by degrees– We shall probably have clearer sight of it presently–
Thank you for sending me Mr Westwood’s defence of me. [3] I wrote immediately to thank him for that proof of friendship– Of the attack I had heard casually two or three weeks ago, but the stupidity of the manner of it prevented the least inclination on my side towards setting myself right with the public– If any reader of my books supposed the author of them to be a “unitarian”, “liberal” or unliberal, there must be something too indurated in the state of that reader’s brain to be impressionable to any further explanation from me. But I am grateful to our kind generous friend Mr Westwood for what he thought fit to do, & I am gratified by such a proof of in<…> [4]
I never saw Miss <…>
life, and the old gossip <…>
on a sickroom” be<…>
had no sort of <…>
in any part of my <…>
now), have had <…>
Unitarianism in <…>
The Howitts <…>
“Unitarian, with <…>
Swedenborgianism <…>
well be said to <…>
Did you ever hear, <…>
north-south wind <…>
doctrine of Sweden<…>
which all the othe<…>
<…>tem, turn, is
<… divi>nity of our Lord
<…> from time to time
<… m>ystical writing—for T.
<… devel>opment– I have seen
<…> kind of writing,
<…>n languages except
<…> of course, I am
<…> and am waiting
<…> for them to flower
<…> beyond them.
<Fa>ithfully yours
<E>lizabeth Barrett Browning.
<…>n reading for the second
<…> my feeling that they are full
<…>ay I say so much?–
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: University of Texas.
1. Approximate date suggested by EBB’s references to her having “delayed writing” and to letter 3334, in which she thanks Thomas Westwood for his “defence” of her.
2. i.e., Mrs. Brotherton’s automatic writings.
4. The balance of the extant letter is fragmentary—the right half of page three and the left half of page four are missing. From what remains it is apparent that EBB’s comments are similar to those made in letter 3334.
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