863. EBB to Mary Russell Mitford
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 5, 151–152.
[London]
Tuesday. [Postmark: 19 October 1841]
My beloved friend,
After all we cant get a stamped number of the Athenæum. Papa has tried in vain. It appears that through the popularity of the Scientific association reports which helped to fill it, not a single one remains unsold. [1] But I do as well in sending you a page or two—as far as my castle in the air is concerned, & your kind care to see it. As to the castle, you will perceive at once that it is no fit lodging for the critics.
Thank you from my heart, for your kind propitiousness towards my dearest dearest Papa. Yes! I think you will be sure to like him! I thank you for the leaning forwards to tell me that you will! What a precious kindness your’s is!–
Dearest friend, I have been wondering to myself since I wrote last, as to whether it was greedy & grasping of me to say ‘yes’ so suddenly upon your offer of the cast. If so, or (without quite such a terrible if) if you cannot very easily & conveniently get the cast for me, do not think that I said ‘yes’ at all. Otherwise I stand upon it—and how rich I shall be with that memorial of you, besides the soft silken lock, all the prettier for its silver glittering! I never said half enough of that!—& dont blame me, for I could’nt!–
So they wont let your Flush travel per railroad!– How uncivilized the world is still!– And I am so disappointed—I wd give anything to see Flush—wd rather see him than all their machinery! Could’nt he be put into a basket, & smuggled, at the price of somebody’s reputation?
As to my Flush he is in great spirits & very well—has taken up a new taste .. for spunge cakes & ratefies, [2] —and thinks it good to be a citizen. But after all he is as true to me as in his days of rural virtue, and wont be led astray far from the door of my room by anybody—except when the body has a hat on its head, & then the temptation carries it. Poor Flush!– Think of his sleeping every night on my bed! I resisted a long while! I would’nt do such a thing on any account. It was wrong & foolish—scarcely cleanly indeed!– Some women might do such things—but no—I never could!– After all Flush persevered, was pathetic, & gained his object. Flush is ‘invincible’ like Alexander!—and I had to admit it from the tripod. [3] He was in such despair when he was sent away!
My brothers,—I forgot to say of them how proud they are of your approbation of their great monsters in the yard. [4] One is called a St Bernardian; but I doubt. The other, the Cuba bloodhound, roars like a lion. You must see & try to approve of them. My doves too, you must see again<.>
Ever y<our> EBB–
No account yet of Mr Kenyon. What is he doing?–
Address: Miss Mitford / Three Mile Cross / near Reading.
Publication: EBB-MRM, I, 293–294.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. The issue of The Athenæum containing EBB’s “House of Clouds” (no. 721, 21 August) devoted ten pages to a report of the Eleventh Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
2. A ratafia or ratafie was an almond-flavoured biscuit, similar to a macaroon.
4. The dogs Catiline and Resolute, mentioned in letter 856.
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