SD1578.1. Mary Russell Mitford to Emily E. Jephson
Addendum to The Brownings’ Correspondence, vol. 18.
[Swallowfield]
[ca. June 1852]
My very dear Emily,
I am in so much haste that I foresee this will be merely a scrap; but I wished to tell you that “Inez de Castro,” although three times in rehearsal, was never acted, and therefore never printed. I am not even sure that I have a ms. copy. If I have, I suppose that some time or other I shall make a volume of tragedies old and new, for my very best “Otto of Wittelsbach,” is in a similar predicament—at all events, the whole will be printed after I am dead. I have most interesting accounts of the Prince President from Mrs. Browning and Mr. Fields, whom I expect here soon, and who will, I hope, bring me a cartload of books about him. I told him to get me all, and the best portraits. He says that none do justice to his pale, earnest face, with its look of deep feeling, and the calm, gracious English manner as he saw him for two hours when sitting almost close to him at a ball at the Tuileries. He said to Madame Sand, on parting from her, after granting all she asked and begging her to visit him again, “Vous verrez, vous serez contente de moi.” to which she replied, “Et vous, vous serez content do moi.” Was not this exceedingly nice on both sides, especially on his? I have a long, interesting letter from Mrs. Trollope at Florence, acting charades—what a woman! …
Text: L’Estrange (1), II, 203–204.
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