350. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 208–210.
Hope End.
Saturday. [19 September 1829] [1]
My dear Mr Boyd,
I have looked over, not read the Parriana, & I now send you as you told me to do, a list of the passages which seem to me most likely to interest you. Read first the two which I have marked first,—because you are quoted in them. [2] The error of the press that has occasioned the omission of two or three lines in one of these quotations, is not corrected in the addenda. I have supplied them in my own copy in my own handwriting. I also send you your verses on Miss Tessy Owen. [3] The following lines
Perhaps what thou hast been, she now may be,—
A guardian angel watching soothing thee–
seem to me very beautiful, &, I hope, very true. And yet why should that be hoped? Those who are gone, can see the earth no more, since they can feel sorrow no more! They could not look upon us without mourning for us—without mourning for our remaining, as we have mourned for their departing! and who would desire that?——
Ever yours, dear Mr Boyd!—with much regard!
E B Barrett.
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The Notes, from page 687 to 696.
Page 712. from these words “From the stricture upon Mr Brunck’s
note &c” to the beginning of page 717.
Page 140 extract from Dr Barton’s Preface to his edition of
Plutarch’s Paralels [sic] between Demos: & Cicero.
147. Mr Green’s strictures on the preface to Bellendenus, & Mr
Barker’s defence of Parr in the note. [4]
470. About Ossian! Do you care about it? Begin “Churchill
in his &c”. Mr Barker’s argument in favour of
Ossian’s authenticity & antiquity.
Page 475. extract from D. Stewart—about Longinus’s ‘υψος &
βαθος. [5] Followed by the abstract of Parr’s observations
on the etymology of the word sublimis. 497. extracts
from Dr John Hunter’s Virgil—against the above
etymology. Professor Dunbar on the same subject. Go
on to page 543 on the same subject. (which I am sure
you won’t do!)
528. The note beginning “Dr Adams &c”
550 Remarks on the literary character of Gilbert Wakefield
in a letter from Dr Parr.
586. Parr’s critique on Gilbert Wakefield’s Horace.
610. Parr’s letter to the Editor of the British Critic, containing
criticisms on Horace.
Here begin the notices of Porson.
626. from the correspondence of G. Wakefield,—to the end of
the passage—or rather to page 644 to the end of the
epigram. Notes included. go on to the notices
of Porson in the Bibliotheca Parriana.
651. From “as the subject &c” down to page 690. Not the notes.
660. The note there.
The notes from page 661 to the end of page 665.
The note at page 674, beginning “In consulting &c” to the end of page 680.
The note at page 698.
The note at page 700.
The text at page 700, beginning “A friend observed &c”—this goes on to speak about Porson’s epigram on Hermann, & to derive it from Bentley & Phocylides.
From Page 719 to page 726—containing Parr’s epitaph on Porson—& Mr Barker’s defence of Parr’s feelings towards him.
Page 727. Not the notes.
734. from “To my excellent friend Dawson Turner Esqr &c”
to the end of page 736.
744. The note beginning “Whenever the name of Porson”.
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I am sure you wont read half the passages referred to here—but there is no harm done in mentioning them. I have mentioned the subjects of most of the long ones, that you may judge yourself whether they will interest you, before you begin to wade. I think that all the references down this page relate to Porson. [6]
Will you give my love to Mrs & Miss Boyd,—& ask the latter to come here on Tuesday week to spend a few days with us,—or as many as she can spare to us?—— I shall be very much pleased if she can & will. I should have ventured to make this request before; but when you had company, I knew asking such a thing would be quite vain,—&, since Miss Roys went away, we have been prevented by different circumstances from doing as we wished. Good-bye once more.
EBB
Address, on integral page: Hugh Stuart Boyd Esqr / Great Malvern.
Publication: EBB-HSB, p. 77 (in part).
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Dated by the reference in letter 351 to Uvedale Price’s death, and by the publication, announced in The Athenæum of 2 September 1829, of vol. II of Barker’s Parriana, here discussed. All the page references that follow are to this volume.
2. Boyd is mentioned on p. 688 (a quotation from his book, The Catholic Faith, 1825) and on pp. 713–714 (a quotation from his Select Passages, 1806).
3. The following poem, in EBB’s hand, accompanies the letter:
Lines on the death of Miss Tessy Owen.
Addressed to Miss Maria Owen.
Say lovely mourner, doth religion guide
Th’ unhallowed strife of sorrow’s troubled tide?
Can sober reason prompt thee thus to weep?
Tho’ cold & low thy Tessy’s form may sleep,
Her spirit, soaring on immortal wings,
Hath gained the presence of the King of Kings,—
Hath reached the haven of eternal rest,
Redeemed & welcomed to the Saviour’s breast.
Oh! think, an angel now she shines above,
A favored object of celestial love,—
Viewing the glories of Emmanuel’s face,
Or sent on messages of heavenly grace.
Perchance, what thou has been, she now may be,
A guardian angel, watching soothing thee.
The golden harp which in her radiant hands,
Now sounds symphonious to the seraph’s bands,—
That very harp, when here thy life shall cease,
May wake the strain which calls thy soul to peace!
Oh think! another angel’s left below,
To soothe thy breast & calm away thy woe.
Then pour not sorrow’s but affection’s tear:
Tho’ Tessy’s gone, Louisa still is here;
And, to a sister’s heart, can aught like Her be dear?
H. S. B.
4. In 1787, Parr had brought out a second edition of De Statu Libri Tres by William Bellenden (d. 1633?). Much controversy was occasioned by Parr’s 76-page preface, which contained some remarks strongly critical of the Government. “Mr. Green’s strictures” are contained in a letter to Barker (pp. 147–148).
5. “Sublimity and profundity.”
6. EBB is referring to her letter’s second page, which starts with the heading: “Here begin the notices of Porson.”
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