SD2215. John Ruskin to Ellen Heaton

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 365 (in part).

[London]

[mid-November 1858]

Dear Miss Heaton

I was partly in hopes of being able to come into town to-day—but found it after all unmanageable …

Well—I envy you & wish you all pleasure—the chief—that of finding the Brownings well and happy. I sent them a line, addressed to the care of Miss Browning, about a month ago—but I can’t write letters now—I just go on in dull, heavy—steady way with various matters which must be done—and my hand & head are good for little afterwards– Give my sincere love to the Brownings & thanks for all their kind words and memories of me—I’ll write to them as soon as I find myself in better heart about matters than I am just now—but all seems to me mightily wrong—in my business—I don’t know what it is in other peoples.

Please send me a line when you see the Brownings—to say how they are. I shall much like having your Turners to take charge of & look at. I am going on with all my plans, if the Brownings ask you. …

I’m thinking of writing a little essay to teach people how to know bad from good Poetry! perhaps Robert Browning may have an idea or two on the subject that will be useful to me! I must really write & ask him.

Text: Sublime & Instructive: Letters from John Ruskin, ed. Virginia Surtees (London, 1972), pp. 217–218.

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