SD2677. Diary Entry of Thomas Knyvett Richmond
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 299 (in part).
[London]
February 12th, 1864
9.30 to Palgrave’s (my father’s old schoolmate, afterwards Sir Reginald Palgrave, Clerk to the House of Commons).
I had heard that Browning was going to be there, but was in no way prepared for the great assemblage of wit. There were there, in order, Clifford Palgrave (the Eastern explorer), Tennyson, Dr. Ogle, Sir Francis Doyle, Francis T. Palgrave (“Golden Treasury”), Gladstone, Browning, Reggie Palgrave, Sir John Simon, and Woolner.
The talk, when I entered, was on the English education of boys, whether they ought to be taught Latin and Greek verse; to which all agreed. Then F.T. Palgrave observed, “But they should be made to write English verses.” Gladstone and Browning were against this, Woolner and Doyle for it. …
Then ensued a battle royal between Browning and Tennyson about John Fo[r]ster’s cutting Macready and being rude to Tennyson. He asked Tennyson to dine, and T. said, “It’s against my principles to dine out.”
Forster: “All your principles are eccentric,” and this seemed to stick in the poet’s gizzard. The story, as told by Browning, is that Macready was bewailing the loss of his first wife, telling Fo[r]ster all his plans, and that, a week after, Fo[r]ster heard, but could not believe it, that Mac had married again—and Fo[r]ster cut him when he found it was true!
“Talking of the Shakespearian anniversary,” said Browning, “here we are called to acknowledge Shakespeare, we who have him in our very bones and blood ourselves! The recognition of Shakespeare’s merits by the Committee reminds me of nothing so apt in illustration as when the Directoire decreed that men might acknowledge God.” …
I shall never forget the evening. The grand head and shoulders, the tender yet powerful eyes of Tennyson. The sharpness and coxcombry of little Browning. The bad manners of Woolner and his horrid laugh. The grace of Giffy Palgrave. The tender power of Gladstone, and the odd, funny expression of Sir Francis Doyle! …
Text: A.M.W. Stirling, The Richmond Papers (London, 1926), pp. 175–177.
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