5014. Sophia Landor to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 27–28.
Tachbrooke. Leamington
25th Jany [1862] [1]
My dear Sir
A day or two after I last wrote to you, I learnt from a friend that a new Work by my Uncle Walter is advertized for publication; but it [is] only this morning I have been able to ascertain its Title & Publisher. “Ancient Poetry, with some fresher,” Published by Newby. [2] This title sounds innocent enough, but it is capable of covering much mischief & I cannot help apprehending mischief whenever my Uncle Walter’s name comes before the Public. Will you pardon me for troubling you with the inquiry whether you know any thing of this proposed new publication & whether it has been submitted to any friendly criticism. How does he contrive to induce any one to publish books which I shd think must be unsaleable? But I know nothing whatever of this book, beyond the mere advertizement in St James’s Chronicle that it is coming out. [3]
I had written thus far when my Uncle Henry suggested that I am troubling you needlessly: that if there is any mischief in the book, we have no power to stop it: & that if you are kind enough to attempt to do so, you will probably involve yourself in a disagreement with my Uncle Walter. I cannot but see there is reason in what he says, & yet as he does not absolutely prohibit my letter, I am inclined to send it. If you do not already know about the book, I think you shd know, as some demand may be made upon you for money on account of it: & if you do already know all about it, perhaps you can give me the satisfactory intelligence that it will do no harm. At the same time let me beg you will not hurry yourself to write sooner than is quite convenient to yourself or allow this matter to give you any annoyance. Trusting you will pardon me for thus plaguing you & with best regards from my Uncle & myself, I remain dear Sir
Gratefully & Sincerely Yrs
Sophia Landor
Address: Robert Browning Esqre / 1. Chichester Road / Upper Westbourne Terrace / London (W.).
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Yale University.
1. Year provided by postmark.
2. Thomas Cautley Newby (1797–1882), publisher and printer with offices at 30 Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square. Landor’s book was issued by Newby as Heroic Idyls, with Additional Poems in the autumn of 1863. According to R.H. Super, Landor had suggested six possible titles (see Walter Savage Landor: A Biography, New York, 1954, p. 492).
3. The St. James’s Chronicle of 11 January 1861, under the heading “From the Critic,” ran the following advertisement: “‘Ancient Poetry with some Fresher,’ by Mr. Walter Savage Landor, is announced by Mr. Newby” (p. 1).
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