4641. EBB to Edmund Ollier
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 27, 258–259.
28. Via del Tritone
Rome–
April 4. 1860.
Dear Sir [1]
If you “thank” me, much more may I thank you– You have given me deep pleasure, both by your letter and by the public expression of your sympathy, [2] —& the deeper pleasure, that both were entirely unexpected.
In printing these poems, I delivered my own soul– That is much to do always, & is enough for me now– Any other consequence was likely, I thought, to be rather painful than pleasant, in my relation to English readers & critics,—yes, and English friends– But you know how these things are, & that when a human being has a profound conviction in him, he is restless till he draw out the arrow though he die in the process. We must speak sometimes: my arrow is out!– I have spoken– And you suddenly & surprisingly have understood, sympathized, & said you did! Much more, then, let me repeat, I may thank you.
Bear with me however if I add that you who have understood so much, have mistaken the bearing of one poem– The ‘Curse for a Nation’ was written for the Anti-Slavery society of the United States & pointed at that country & not at my own– I am sure if you will read again the ‘Prologue’ to the poem, you will acquit me even of obscurity of intention, & do me justice by a correcting word. [3] When the Athenæum made this mistake, I explained in haste & some indignation,—but when a sympathetic judge like yourself makes it, I am surprised & perplexed. Yet on recurring to the ‘Prologue,’ it does look to me very clear! I refer it to your justice, however.
Certainly whatever ‘curse’ was conceived of by me, as regards America, was simply implied in the action imputed– Even our ‘holy father’ here cant curse with much effect now-a-days. His very Romans would tear down the ‘affiches,’ [4] if he did not set police men to guard them. And to curse one’s own country would be a little “fast” for a woman, though twice an ‘insane prophet’ as the Athenæum has it– [5] So you will set me right with your public, will you not?
And for all the generous justice you have done me, I thank you—& my husband who has greater joy in it still than I, thanks you in proportion. We know your name– May it grow in honor while from your ’vantage post you help to widen the moral & political horizon of our common country–
I remain gratefully yours,
Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Address: Angleterre / Edmund Ollier Esqre / 10. Victoria Grove / South Kensington. / London. W.
Publication: The Atlas, 14 April 1860, pp. 290–291 (in part).
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Edmund Ollier (1826–1886), journalist and historian, was at this time editor of The Atlas.
3. The Atlas of 14 April 1860 carried an extract of this letter with the following comment: “Far be it from us to dispute with Mrs. Browning on such a point. We receive the correction with pleasure, and acknowledge our mistake, with many expressions of regret for having gone astray, as others have gone in this very matter” (p. 290).
4. “Public notices.”
5. In the conclusion of its review of Poems Before Congress. For the full text of this review, see p. 358.
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