4238. Bryan Waller Procter to EBB & RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 224–225.
26 New Steine
Brighton
7 September 1858
My dear Browning & Mrs Browning
I have just (i.e. last night) heard, from Mrs Jameson, that you are at Havre. I fear from this that there is no chance of my seeing you in England this year. Nevertheless I should like to know that you (& your little boy) are well, & going on prospering in the land of Poetry. Will you not send me a line to tell me how this is? Are you going to winter at Havre? or are you going (& when going) to return to Italy? I do not like losing any of my former pleasures—for I get old—& reckon few amongst the friends, whom I knew some years ago. I leave this place on Friday for London (32 Weymouth Street Portland Place, as usual) & should be glad of a token that you have still some recollection of me. My wife is gone to the Highlands of Scotland. Adelaide has published a little book of verse, [1] which has been very successful. Forster is well,—& Tennyson has done a good deal (I hear) towards a Poem on the subject of King Arthur. [2] Forster speaks in very high terms of it.
I forbear to speak very minutely on these & other matters, being almost doubtful of this letter reaching you. Mrs Jameson told me that your stay at Havre was almost over.
Chapman of course sent you, as I directed him to do—that illustrated book of mine (a book of my poor old verses) [3] a year & a half ago. —I mention this—not because it is necessary—but because he is so very oblivious at times—that I now & then become apprehensive that he may not have attended to all my Instructions.
I still travel about a good deal– I eat & drink—but am not very merry– [4] I think that I still (old as I am) like poetry better than anything.
I bought Wordsworth[’]s Poems, the other day, for a shilling! What fine things—amongst a vast heap of prose—the Excursion contains! [5] It must be almost 40 years since I read it before.
You will believe me when I tell you that there are not many people in England who think of you oftener or more kindly than
Your very sincere
B. W. Procter.
Publication: Luther A. Brewer, My Leigh Hunt Library, the Holograph Letters (Iowa City, 1938), pp. 219–220.
Manuscript: University of Iowa.
1. Legends and Lyrics (1858).
2. Idylls of the King (1859), which contained four poems: “Enid,” “Vivien,” “Elaine,” and “Guinevere.”
3. Dramatic Scenes, with Other Poems (1857); see letter 4004, note 7.
4. Cf. Ecclesiastes 8:15.
5. William Wordsworth’s The Excursion: Being a Portion of The Recluse, a poem, first published in 1814, is a meditation and philosophical discussion in nine books of blank verse with characters named the Friend (the poet himself), the Wanderer, the Solitary, and the Pastor. It was to be the second of a three-part work called The Recluse, but only The Excursion was completed.
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