550. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 213.
74 Gloucester Place
Thursday. [29 December 1836] [1]
My dear [2]
As far as is in my “then,” you object to me on account of my “humanness”. For instance, had I been only omniscient, I shd have known that you wished your portfolio to be returned to you without an hour’s intermission,—and shd have forseen that all the mails as well as the females, myself included, would be blocked up by the snow this week!!– A little omnipotence on the other hand, would have taken me thro’ the snow,—with dry feet, in the case of my walking, and with every manner of safety, in the case of my driving to your house, on tuesday wednesday or thursday—besides—(which wd have been yet more wonderful—) keeping Papa quite silent all the while!
As it is, I beseech you to pardon me the finiteness of my faculties—in consideration that their necessary bonds are not set to my friendship for you, notwithstanding all your severities in prose & verse.
The New Monthly Magazine does not contain either of my poems. I have in consequence written for both of them to be returned to me—& addressed this application to the late Editor, Mr Hall, in obedience to whose request, they were sent.
Our love to Annie
Your affectionate friend
E B Barrett.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. This letter falls between no. 548, in which EBB mentions expecting the return of the poems submitted to The New Monthly Magazine, and receipt of the January issue of the magazine, which contained “The Island.” EBB’s reference to “the snow this week” suggests the date of 29 December, as there was snow in London on 25, 26, 27 and 29 December.
2. Remainder of salutation is erased. Internal evidence, including reference to Annie, identifies Hugh Stuart Boyd as the recipient.
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