5165. Richard Hengist Horne to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 190–191.
Care of the City Treasurer
Town Hall
Melbourne
Australia
Jany 24/63
My dear Browning
It did not need that I sh’d be told, two or three years ago, in Melbourne, by Mr Edward Wilson, [1] that, on his visit to you in Florence he found I was “freshly remembered” by you, and your dear wife. As the remembrance of you both was so fresh and deep in myself, I was not surprised though, indeed, pleased even to sighs—to find, that long years of unbroken silence, and the distance of half our world of earth and sea, had not affected your memories, and our mutual feelings. A man in exile may be expected to treasure up all dear old associations, more especially when exiled, like myself, in, a half-civilized country, where self-sufficing, arrogant ignorance is the dominating characteristic.
Of you, dear R.B, I have thought the more within these last few days, from accidentally exhuming a copy of “Shelley’s Letters,” with your Introductory Essay, [2] —a lesson in itself, both to critics and poets. I have also been greatly delighted during my late visit to Sydney, to find a man—native born—who had been one of your most devout readers, from “Paracelsus” onwards, and by whom your most subtle and intense thoughts, images, and suggestions are deeply appreciated. He is one of the best-read men I ever met, and as his library, at one time, numbered over five thousand volumes, it seemed to me worth hearing, that he should single out a special author or two from England as objects of his highest admiration. His name is D. H. Deniehy. [3]
Thus much of words, for our old friendship, as companions in arms poetical; and now, a word or two on present times—hard ones—and myself. All sorts of adventures, events, and vicissitudes, have chequered my ten long years out here—the most painful being the strange mental aberration of my wife, [4] and her self-divorce from me, with all the injurious scandals and falsehoods germinating from her causeless and purposeless act. But besides this, other events have combined to render me extremely poor (Robert Bell [5] can tell you how poor) so that I was driven, last year, to claim my author’s rights to some help from the Literary Fund Society; [6] and I at once received it. This was conveyed to me in the handsomest terms, through Bell; the committee being composed of men you know, with Earl Stanhope in the chair. [7]
To avoid the need for making any second application, I have requested Mr Monckton Milnes, Charles Dickens, Sir Edwd B. Lytton, Chas Knight, [8] Bell, and others, to confer with Sir Redmond Barry [9] (Chancellor of the Melbourne University) who is now in London, with a view to maybe obtaining the appointment of Professor of English Literature. But, as no such office, as yet, exists (the young native bears here, having to lick themselves in to shape in lieu of the mother-tongue) there will be perhaps, as Dickens writes me, a dead blank wall set up against me, at the outset. But then, I wish my friend, to fall back upon the fact of there being two Law Lecturers to the University, and if I were placed, on a similar footing, as Lecturer on Engh Lite it w’d give me income, and peace of mind enough, and do as well as a thousand a year in the “body” of the University. I’d rather have six hundred, and my latch-key. The countenance of stone-set Learning “likes me not”—nor I it.
Among other friends therefore, whose high position in literature must give weight to any application, I write to you not knowing in the least how, or, whether you can promote my interests in the business; but feeling quite sure you will do so, should any means be in your power. May I ask you to see Mr Milnes, and Robt Bell on the subject, at your earliest convenience. And believe me,
Dear Browning
yours as of old R H Horne
Address: Please forward / Robert Browning Esqre: [In unidentified hand:] Care of Chapman & Hall, / Publishers / Piccadilly. / S.W.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Alexander Turnbull Library.
1. Edward Wilson (1813–78)—see letter 4581, note 1—who called on the Brownings at Rome in March 1860 (see letter 4616).
3. Daniel Henry Deniehy (1828–65), Australian writer.
4. Catherine (“Kate”) Clare St. George Horne (née Foggo, 1826–93). She married Horne in 1847 but remained in England when in 1852 he sailed to Australia in search of gold. At her request, they officially separated two years later.
5. Robert Bell (1800–67), journalist and playwright, was a member of the Royal Literary Fund’s General Committee.
6. With the support of Charles Dickens and others, Horne applied to the Royal Literary Fund on 3 February 1862 and was awarded £80.
7. Philip Henry Stanhope (1805–75), 5th Earl Stanhope, politician and historian, was president of the Royal Literary Fund from 1863 until his death. At the time of Horne’s application, the president was Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice (1780–1863), 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne, who had served in that capacity since 1837.
8. Charles Knight (1791–1873), writer and publisher.
9. Redmond Barry (1813–80), Irish-born colonial judge in Victoria, Australia, was the inaugural Chancellor of the University of Melbourne from 1853 until his death.
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