SD1963. Joseph Milsand to William Henry Darley
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 250–251 (in part).
Paris 9 rue Servandoni
Saturday evening 6. September 1856
My dear Darley
… I am really quite satisfied in regard to my article. I had not yet been such a dolt as I would have thought. The director of the revue had written me on his return from Trouville, and I have seen him. I was satisfied. He is a well-bred and agreeable man. He told me that he had not read my article himself, but he had it read by his assistant, and that it had been accepted—only he added that there would be a few little observations to be sent me. Otherwise, he talked to me as a man who counted on forming a continuing relationship with me, and he told me I might put myself in a position at the Revue with which he hoped I would be content. This means doubtless that I will be paid; that suits me. I was less charmed by his assistant, Mr Lacaussade- It seemed to me that he had too much of a sense of self-importance: and I thought that I noticed he was a very impatient man.– In sum, there was no current of love between us. The corrections he spoke to me about were nevertheless negligible: and he told me that the Revue Contemporaine did not do as the Revue des Deux Mondes, that it meant to respect the dignity of the writer. All this was a little artificial, but in sum quite promising; and when I returned two days later with my corrections done, I found my man much better and apparently almost touched that I had been willing to listen to him. Maybe after all there was more fear than anything else in his first manner– I would say that his only offense was perhaps in putting himself too quickly on the defensive. In any case, he told me that he would immediately send my manuscript to the printer, without even re-reading it, and that I would have the proofs Tuesday, to appear without fail on the 15th. May God grant that your good omen may be true.– I am not so easily hopeful as to believe so quickly that all my sterility and silliness was Buloz’s fault: and that I will find myself full of vitality, no longer feeling his bear’s paw on my head. …
But I continue my visits to Versailles, where eight days ago I took a magnificent 6-and-a-half-hour walk. We went to the Aqueducts of Buc, from there to Jouy, and we came back by the fountains of .. I forget the name (Nouettes, I believe), which is left of the railroad tracks on my side of the river, a little before the gate of Paris. I am still pleased about Mrs Corkran, and I even said so to her husband. He replied, “Yes, yes forget all that, it was probably nothing but a misunderstanding.” Browning contributed to that by sending his two volumes to the woman. Corkran, who read them, is full of admiration. Nothing remains but a little bashfulness. After my grand excursion, I have been once more to Versailles: this time it was to be the guest of Miss Browning; for I am divided. Father and daughter are well and are delighted with their stay. They particularly praise the Quartier St Louis and are inclined to stay as long as the good weather lasts.
I am interrupted by the delivery of proofs for two thirds of my article. You see that they mean at least in good faith to publish. Nevertheless, I am once again to pass under the eyes of Mr de Calonne …
The Corkrans and the Brownings have charged me to send their regards. …
I do not think that Robert Browning, who is currently in the Isle of Wight with his wife, is planning to return yet. They are well: But the child was pale during their stay in London. …
Address: W. H. Darley Esq / 5 Queen’s Terrace / Bayswater / London / (Angleterre).
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Joseph Milsand Archive.
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