632. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 32–33.
50 Wimpole Street
Wednesday. [late May 1838] [1]
Thank you for your enquiry my dear friend. I had begun to fancy that between Saunders & Otley & the Seraphim I had fallen to the ground of your disfavor. But I do trust to be able to send you a copy before next Sunday.
I am thrown back a little just now by having caught a very bad cold, which has of course affected my cough. The worst seems however to be past, & Dr Chambers told me yesterday that he expected to see me in two days nearly as well as before this casualty. And I have been, thank God, pretty well lately—and altho’ when the stethescope was applied three weeks ago it did not speak very satisfactorily of the state of the lungs, yet Dr Chambers seems to be hopeful still, & to talk of the wonders which the summer sunshine (when it does come) may be the means of doing for me. And people say that I look rather better than worse, even now.
Did you hear of an autograph of Shakespeare’s being sold lately for a very large sum (I think it was above a hundred pounds) on the credit of its being the only genuine autograph extant?– [2] Is your’s quite safe? And are you so, in your opinion of its veritableness?
I have just finished a very long barbarous ballad for Miss Mitford & Finden’s tableaux of this year. The title is “The romaunt of the page”, & the subject, not of my own choosing.
I believe that you will certainly have The Seraphim this week. Do Macadamize [3] the frown from your brow in order to receive them!——
Give my love to Miss Holmes——
Your affectionate friend
E B Barrett.
Address, on integral page: H S Boyd Esqr / 3 Circus Road / St John’s Wood.
Publication: LEBB, I, 61–62.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Dated by the imminent publication of The Seraphim.
2. The Times of 16 May 1838 had reported that “Yesterday there was sold by Mr. Evans, Pall-mall, Montaigne’s Essays, by Florio, First Edition. Shakspere’s Copy, with his Autograph, in the original binding, 1603.... The authenticity of this autograph of Shakspere is unquestionable” having “already passed the ordeal of numerous competent examiners … The lot was … knocked down at 100l. to Mr. Pickering.” Nothing is known of Boyd’s supposed autograph of Shakespeare.
3. i.e., smooth; McAdam’s process provided an even surface for roads.
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