SD1564. Mary Russell Mitford to Jane Ouvry
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 18, 362–363 (in part).
[Swallowfield]
[7 April 1852]
My very dear Mrs Ouvry– So entirely do I join with you in condemning Madame Sand that I point blank refused Mrs Browning to send her my books with hers some years ago– Those years have a good deal altered the face of things– She has reformed her bad ways—lives quietly with her children—& above all has given up the demoralising book writing which was far more mischievous than her personal immorality & puts her genius (for it is more than talent) to its proper use– … Her later stories & above all her exquisite rustic dramas give token of a greatly altered moral sense—in short she is now a person whom I should not object to meet although I should not go in search of her, & should most assuredly never dream of any hand kissing. Beranger & the Prince-President are the only two personages in France whose hands I have any fancy to shake– But Mrs Browning always did make an Idol of Talent– The thing that astounds me is that that propensity should not have vanished after seeing the clay feet—as she must have done in so many cases– …
My friend Mr. Bennett who besides being a charming poet is an eminent watch maker & jeweller gave me the other day a most curious account of the Forger of the Shelley Letters. A young man quite sufficiently like Lord Byron to vindicate his claim to illegitimacy called on him a year or two ago to bespeak a locket for three curls of his father’s hair cut off at three different periods of his life (I dare say they were hair forgeries, cuttings from wigs)– He called himself Mr Byron & coming often to see about the locket one day asked Mr Bennett to accompany him home to examine certain papers & engravings which he had been collecting for the purpose of a great life of his father which he had in contemplation– … No doubt amongst these were taken the Shelley forgeries—& there doubtless were the germs of many others– They would Mr Bennett says have deceived the whole world as indeed they did deceive not only Robert Browning probably no great judge, but practised publishers like Mr Moxon & Mr Murray—autograph collectors & autograph auctioneers. …
Publication: Chorley, II, 128–131 (in part).
Manuscript: Reading Central Library.
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