SD1955. William Henry Darley to Joseph Milsand
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 248 (in part).
Hastings
No 3 Linton Terrace
5 Aug. 1856
My dear Milsand
I received your last letter the 30th July, so it came very rapidly to hand. The good news it contained has given me hearty pleasures; above all, the favourable account you give of yourself and your doings. No matter to what cause the change is due, it is not only good for present use but gives fair hope for the future. By the way what has become of the article in M. Buloz’ hands? has it appeared? if the one you are at present completing shd come out in another review before he publishes the former one, he will be nicely “nicked” as English slang has it. I must tell you that my Brother says that he is almost certain you were too susceptible and hasty in your conduct with respect to your affair with the “Revûe des 2 Mondes.” I am inclined to think sometimes that we are both somewhat too thin-skinned, at least too much so for getting on in the world and for our own tranquillity. So you see we must strive “to kick against the pricks” in every sense. My brother has evidently progressed in health (bodily) since he has been here but has the greatest difficulty in admitting that the fact is so. He is no doubt delicate; but the main cause of his present state is that “il s’écoute trop” [“he coddles himself”]. At any rate I can perceive no symptoms of a more direct or physical source for his indisposition; unhappily this is quite enough, and <***>
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Joseph Milsand Archive.
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