Supporting Documents

SD2207.  Diary Entry of William Allingham

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 363.

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[ca. 10 October] 1858

Returning to Paris, after a short tour in Switzerland and North Italy, I found Thackeray in the Hotel Bristol with his two daughters. He not well—often in bed till mid-day or later—struggling with (Pendennis), but in the evening usually recovering himself.

I told him I had been with the Brownings (who were then in Paris, staying in the Rue Castiglioni, No. 6).

‘Browning was here this morning,’ Thackeray said, ‘what spirits he has—almost too much for me in my weak state. He almost blew me out of bed!’

‘A wonderful fellow, indeed!’

‘Yes, and he doesn’t drink wine.’

‘He’s already screwed up to concert pitch.’

‘Far above it. But I can’t manage his poetry. What do you say?’

(I spoke highly of it).

‘Well, you see, I want poetry to be musical, to run sweetly.’

‘So do I’——

‘Then that does for your friend B.!’

I spoke of Browning’s other qualities as so splendid as to make him, as it were, a law in himself. But Thackeray only smiled and declined further discussion.

‘He has a good belief, in himself, at all events. I suppose he doesn’t care whether people praise him or not.’

‘I think he does, very much.’

‘O does he? Then I’ll say something about him in a number.’

Text: William Allingham, A Diary, ed. H. Allingham & D. Radford (London, 1908), pp. 76–77.

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