SD1208. Harriet Martineau to Richard Hengist Horne
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 8, 335 (in part).
Tynemouth
May 20th [1844]
Dear Sir
I think the Report had better go to Mr Knight, if you please, as he is expecting it, & will soon be wanting it. Enclosed to him at 22 Ludgate it will find him.
I am glad Mr Moxon is “agreeable”, thus far, & I hope all will go well to the end.
I quite agree with you as to the kindness & thorough good intent of the account of me in your book. The mistakes are of no further consequence than as being mistakes;—such as that my spirits are naturally good;—that I had good health when I was in America, & the like. Plenty of these harmless errors & the omission of almost every thing of most importance, such as the persecution of me in Amera as an abolitionist,—my politl standing at home, &c,—these things together make the whole account rather amusing to such as thoroughly know me. But such is sure to be the case, in all attempts of the kind, & to obtain any thing just in temper, & with any facts at all, is as much as can be reasonably expected. The greatest mistake of all was to the standing of “Deerbrook,” wh, as a matter of fact, is regarded by all whose judgment is most valuable to me as the work of my life. It is that wh has brought me more blessings & privileges than all the rest put together, &, this being the case, a single judgment, right or wrong, is of no consequence to me. I regard the present one with regret only because I believe that it cd not be held by any one who has had experience of sound domestic purity & peace. I say this in utter ignorance of the authorship, wh, on this ground, I wish not to know.
I like the Landor & the Tennyson the best, I think. Macaulay seems to me the very strangest. …
Bulwer asks who Miss Barrett is! & I am now going to send him her “Dead Pan.” Most fine it is!
Address: R. H. Horne Esqre / 38 Finsbury Square / London.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
___________________
