4398. EBB & RB to Editor of The Athenæum
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 137–138.
Rome,
May 7. [1859] [1]
We request of the courtesy of the Athenæum to explain for us, if an explanation is really necessary on either side of the Atlantic, that our letter [2] was directed to the readers and circulators of a certain newspaper announcement (vide the New York National Anti-slavery Standard for the 4th of December last) of Madame Mario’s arrival in the United States, “highly recommended” by the Brownings and others, to lecture on Orsini and Italian politics. We thought it right to contradict this statement, because, like Mr. Horace Greeley and his co-signataries, being accustomed to judge for ourselves on political matters, we choose, therefore, to accept the responsibility simply of our own opinions. [3] But we submit the terms of our letter to all reasonable persons, and inquire whether, if we had suspected Madame Mario of any connivance with or knowledge of the newspaper announcement, we should have used the opportunity of contradicting it, to express our “strong affection and esteem” for herself personally.
Robert Browning,
Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Text: The Athenæum, 21 May 1859, no. 1647, p. 680.
1. Year provided by the publication date of The Athenæum.
3. The Brownings are responding to a letter that appeared in The Athenæum of 30 April 1859 (no. 1644, p. 584), signed by Horace Greeley (1811–72), founder and editor of the New-York Tribune; Henry Jarvis Raymond (1820–69), founder and editor of The New-York Times; and others. See SD2259.
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