SD1878. Robert Bulwer Lytton to John Forster

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 385 (in part).

Paris

15th Nov/55

My dear Forster,

I found upon enquiry (which immediately after receiving your letter, I made) of the person from whom I had heard of the sale of the Swift letters …

I talked over my idea about Petre [the Great] to the Brownings—they didn’t seem to think it a very auspicious subject—Mrs B. at least is very strongly of opinion that the Present and not the Past tense is the right one for making poetry. I am not at all sure of that—and at any rate, I deny that the Past is to be denied all representations on poetry, or that the life lived hundreds of years ago is any less real life than that lived to day. … I have been writing a critique on Browning, but I find so much to say about him, & about the art in general as suggested by his views & practice of it, and the subject consequently spreads so, as I go on, that I cant get into a mere Magazine space all I want to say.

I shd be so rejoiced if it were possible to get what I am writing into one of the larger & loftier Reviews—were there such a possibility I wd take the greatest possible pains with all and I really think I could do the subject justice in my treatment of it. It wd be a good thing for me and a good thing for Browning if I cd do so. Will you tell me if you think I might hope to send it to which of the reviews? …

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Lord Cobbold.

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