486. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 96–97.
[Sidmouth]
[18–19 July 1834] [1]
My dear Mr Boyd,
Are you wondering at me or scolding at me, for not writing before? Perhaps doing neither. Perhaps you are commending me for not teazing you; and I dont quite deserve the commendation, seeing that my reason for not writing has been my ignorance of where a letter could find you. I had heard that you were leaving Bath, before Mrs Boyd’s message reached me; and from her message I heard only that you were going to London. Harvey has however given me your direction; & now I must write & congratulate you upon the appearance of your book. Harvey’s part of the execution does him infinite credit, & quite pleases & surprises me. The Fathers have no greater reason to complain of the paper & type & binding for which they have exchanged their “worn cerements”, than of your translation of their Greek. The Preface does in many respects read much better in print and at leisure, than in the straggling ms. & uncritical haste in which I first read it at Harvey’s shop. Still, there are in it passages, I do not cease lamenting that you were induced to write .. & print!! The allusion to Moore, I do not like. [2] It appears to me too contemptuous as relating to a justly distinguished writer; & there are those who might attribute expressions applied by you to yourself, as being somewhat too assuming of reputation. Now do forgive me, dear Mr Boyd! I am not, & nobody ought to be, ungrateful to you. Your book is a valuable book. There is in it, valuable matter, besides the translations; and the translations truly are, as Lord Byron falsely said of a certain criticism, “excellently well done”. Let me hear whether you receive favorable opinions from your learned friends,—what Mr Spowers says—and whether the church of England curtsies and says “Thank you”. Seriously, do tell me of the approbation of those whose opinion is, from different causes, worth your possessing. I shall always be gratified to hear of that.
Saturday.
I had written so much of my letter, when I discovered that you intended a copy of your book to be a present to me. I am much obliged to you for it, & shall sincerely value it. But indeed it was not a necessary kindness. I had already provided myself with the book.
The letter which Annie wrote to Arabel, speaks of your intending to settle at either Dover or Hastings. Will you let me hear of your plans? Papa returned from London the day before yesterday. Give my love to Mrs Boyd & Annie, & tell them that Mr Singleton is dead & Mrs S returned to Ireland. Harriet Baynes [3] is perfectly well in mind & in body.
Believe me affectly yours
E B Barrett.
It is almost too late to speak of it but I dont think I was to blame about the Greek poems. The ‘vile mistakes’ were not in the proof sheet which I examined—I think not. I think they must have crept into the subsequent proof sheet which was printed in a hurry, to be sent to you, & which I [4] did not see. I only want to prove to you that I am not quite so bad, as you may suppose.
Address, on integral page: H S Boyd Esqr / Joseph Lowry’s Esqr / 21. Charlotte Street / Portland Place / London.
Publication: Weaver, pp. 410–411.
Manuscript: Huntington Library.
1. Letter is postmarked 20 July 1834, which was a Sunday. EBB headed the last part “Saturday,” the previous day.
2. EBB must have had a lapse of memory, as there is no reference to Moore in Boyd’s preface. It is possible that she intended to refer to Boyd’s remarks on John Milner (1752–1826), Vicar-Apostolic of the western district of England. On p. xxiv, Boyd wrote: “Look at the great Bishop Milner. What a specimen have I given of his ignorance; an ignorance of the criticism, not merely of the Greek Testament, but of the Vulgate itself!”
3. The third daughter of General Edward Baynes, whose home was in Sidmouth.
4. Underscored twice.
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