736. Mary Russell Mitford to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 245–246.
Three Mile Cross,
March 3, 1840.
I had a kind message from Captain Marryat once, [1] when somebody whom he knew was coming here, but have never seen him. Without being one of his indiscriminate admirers, I like parts of his books (some of which I have read to my father), and have been told that they have done good in the profession—suggestions thrown out in them having been taken up and acted upon by the Lords of the Admiralty; and, although a Tory, he takes part with the common sailors. Did I tell you that, the day I wrote in the midst of a quantity of people, a niece of the late Mr. Trollope [2] called, and a nephew of Mrs. Trollope’s [3] —both twins, she having a twin sister and he a twin brother. Odd, is it not?
Did you know Dr. Parry? [4] I did; and it is really sad how every lion, who behaves as if he thought himself a lion, shrinks into a very tame menagerie wild beast when one comes before him face to face. I suspect that Sir Walter [5] was about the only one that thoroughly stood the test, and poor Mrs. Hemans, because both were honest lovers of society, with no exclusive veneration for their own books, and therefore came within the exceptive clause in my first sentence.
Heaven bless you, my dearest! I am better, but have had two or three returns of sickness. These winds!
Yours ever,
M. R. M.
Address: Miss Barrett, Torquay.
Text: L’Estrange (2), III, 107–108.
1. Capt. Frederick Marryat, R.N. (1792–1848), novelist, had commanded one of the naval vessels patrolling off St. Helena during Napoleon’s exile there. He drew on his experiences in the Navy when writing his novels, and this realism contributed to their success. Among his many works were The Naval Officer (1829), The King’s Own (1830), Peter Simple (1834) and Mr. Midshipman Easy (1836).
2. Probably Frances Trollope’s brother-in-law, the Rev. Henry Trollope, who had died in 1839.
3. Her brother, Henry Milton, had twin sons.
4. Parry being a common name, the reference is insufficient to identify this gentleman, even though the title “Dr.” narrows the field.
5. Assumed to be Sir Walter Scott, as Miss Mitford names him and Mrs. Hemans again, in a similar context, in her letter of 20 June 1841.
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