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Trinity College, Cambridge.—Refers to a forthcoming Congregation and other engagements. Comments on Rossetti’s Poems and George Eliot’s ‘Legend of Jubal’. Is eagerly awaiting Swinburne’s Songs before Sunrise.

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Transcript

Trin. Coll. Camb.

Dear Fred

Congregation on Thursday. Dine with me on Wednesday at seven. The General is coming. We have chosen the 8th or 15th for Richmond with strong preference for the 8th. Of course you have read Rosetti’s pomes & the legend of Jubal. {1} I don’t know whether I like the latter—it is rather ingenious to use that unaccountably silly legend of the long lives to illustrate that men are only επωνυμοι {2} to the gods we make of them. Some of R’s things are very pretty, and some almost powerful: the thought seems to me archaic. I die daily till “Songs before Sunrise” {3} be mine.

The Flies will just have to perform on the 24th; there will be swell gymnastics in the morning, and everybody shall be put up. Thine W.K.C.

If you will hint your pleasure I will get the supplicat ready and things. I expect also Charles Niven.

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Written in purple ink.

{1} Rossetti’s Poems, his first major collection, appeared in 1870. George Eliot's poem 'The Legend of Jubal' was first published in Macmillan’s Magazine in May the same year.

{2} Presumably the sense is ‘those who give their names to’.

{3} Swinburne's Songs before Sunrise was published in 1871. On 4 January it was advertised in The Times (p. 12) as being ‘just ready’.

Rossetti's poem was written about Francis McCracken, a Belfast shipowner and early Pre-Raphaelite patron.

Engineer-in-Chief's Office, General Post Office, E.C. - Will send publication refuting Rufus Griswold's allegations against Edgar Allan Poe; is writing own biography in defence of Poe. Poe's sister Rosalie is living in Baltimore in great poverty; requests contribution; Tennyson, Swinburne and Rossetti have promised aid.

1, Wellington Place, Tunbridge Wells:- Thanks his mother for her letter, which arrived yesterday. Is staying the night at Tunbridge Wells; his hosts [his aunt Anna Maria Philips and Sophie Wicksteed] are 'both in good spirits, and Sophie certainly not ill'. Is going for a few days next week to Failand near Bristol, the 'country house of Roger [Fry]'s family'. Will then go on to Welcombe, he thinks taking the places of the Webbs [Sidney and Beatrice, friends of his brother Charles?], 'for we have to wait our turn like aspirants for office'. Will be glad to get away from London, where he has been leading 'a miserable bus-riding rattle-of-bus-fretted existence since September'.

Thinks it will become a 'downright cruel winter' soon, as it is quickly getting colder 'after a long merciful delay'; if it does, London will be 'uninhabitable for a season, at least to work in', and he does not expect he will return. Will not come to his parents in Rome, as it 'would be absurd' not to see the sights which she 'describe[s] so temptingly' on his first visit, and this would 'not fall in with' his intention to work. Believes [Edward] Marsh is in Rome, or 'will be soon', since Robert 'just missed him in London'.

Will send the Pageant [magazine recently published by Ricketts and Shannon, see 46/38] if she likes, 'though there is much bad in it'. For him, its 'chief value' is that it has 'several old [D. G.] Rossettis and Mi[l]ais', as well as Rickett's Oedipus. Shannon's drawings have 'both been badly reproduced, and are by no means his best work'; in fact several contributors, such as Swinburne, Bridges, and Robert's friend [T.S.] Moore 'have not done themselves justice'. Does not know if his mother has 'ever tasted of Maeterlinck's strange vintage before'; he himself 'neither scoff[s] nor adore[s]' but the play in the Pageant is 'fairly typical' of him; thinks his poem, as well as Verlaine's, good. The Pageant should 'amuse [her] as decadent in an extreme though not particularly offensive form'.

The 'American affair is deplorable': fears it 'may lead to real trouble', though the general view in England, both among individuals and newspapers is that 'Jonathan will begin to see in a few days that he is making an exhibition of himself ['Uncle' is written before 'Jonathan' then crossed out: perhaps Robert Trevelyan confused 'Brother Jonathan', a representative figure of New England sometimes used to stand for the entire United States, with Uncle Sam - or was about to use the latter term then changed his mind]'. Glad she finds Italian politics interesting; he 'used to read the political articles in the Sera and Tribuna' to 'pick up a little of what was going on'.

27 Rutland Street, N.W. - Has given his friend Sir Charles Nicholson, who is travelling to Egypt in November and will pass through Italy an introduction to Browning. Had an invitation from Carlyle two days ago to meet some friends of Browning, the Twisledons [Twisletons] but was not free; Carlyle is evidently recovered. Another friend of Browning's, Mrs Cust, has called on Woolner, wanting him to cast her hand as a gift for a sister who is going to India; found she was an old friend of the Trevelyans.

Has done little since he last saw Browning but work on his bust of Tennyson; has 'worked upon it closely for nearly 9 weeks and have fully a month's work yet before it can be completed'; complains about lack of time spent on most works of art nowadays, particularly sculpture. Rossetti is soon going to paint an altarpiece for Llandaff Cathedral; he is travelling to Wales with Seddon, the architect responsible for repairing the building, 'so that probably he will not be long before he commences it - but as to finishing? -'

David Masson asks in which paper Browning's article on Chatterton is to be found. Story about Thackeray's recent lectures at the Glasgow Athenaeum. Does not 'hear much spoken of in the literary world except [Elizabeth Barrett Browning's] Aurora Leigh'.

Asks for information concerning Myers' coming to Cambridge, 'The Prospects of Poetry' and 'The Probabilities of Medicine etc etc'. Declares that they have much to discuss, Sidgwick having failed to write due to the unrealised expectation of seeing Myers at Rugby. Reports that he has to teach history that term, 'no successor having turned up to Pearson: and Cambridge breeding no historian'; they are 'thinking of taking some healthy young resident and locking him up with a Hume'; it is 'rather a disgrace to us that we all take so small an interest in the human race'.

Asks if he has seen Noel 'in the Dark Blue [a literary journal]'. Suggests that he may have been ashamed to send it to Myers, as 'some of the polemic is almost personal'. Declares that it is very well written, 'except the polemical part', and states that he writes better prose than verse. Reports that Noel nearly quarrelled with him 'for reluctantly avowing that [he] did not consider him an equal of Swinburne.' States that Noel 'thinks that the Verbal School (S[winburne?] Rossetti, etc - non sine te) have been found out'. Refers to the Edinburgh of July, and the Contemporary [Review] of October as having evidence to support this theory. States that Noel also thinks that 'Buchanan and R.N are going to be chaired instead by a mutable but at length appreciative public.' Refers to 'a certain Mutual Admiration league' between Noel and Symonds. Believes that Symonds's poetry could be successful, 'if he could only impassion himself about a good subject.'

Asks Myers to send his last epic. Tells him to read Noel's article. Sends his regards to Myers' mother. Announces that his second correspondence circular is soon to appear. Reports that Miss Clough is in Cambridge, that the house is 'getting on', and that there will be five [women] there that term.

Undertakes to mention Myers' wishes in relation to the Moral Sciences Examination. Does not know 'who the other two [examiners] will be.' States that Mayor has been applied to. Is torn between 'a desire to get a good man and to do honour to the Tripos by getting a M. Sc. firstclass-man.' Says he 'quite accept[s Myer's] epithets for [D. G.] Rossetti's sonnets' which pleased him 'critically and classificatorily' since he discovered in Rossetti 'the "missing link" between Swinburne and Christina Rossetti'. Wishes Rossetti would write more.

Discusses Mozley's article on Modern poets in the Quarterly [Review], and claims that he is the first man 'who has spoken adequately of Clough.' Reports that there is a new edition of Clough in the press. States that he has not seen [Roden] Noel since he reviewed him. Remarks that 'that review has turned out unfortunate', and that '[R. H.?] Hutton likes the poems and therefore would have reviewed them...with his goldest pen.' Claims that he could not have said anything stronger in [Noel's] favour, and does not agree with Myers about the book. Declares that Markby 'is a little over enthusiastic about female prospects' and believes himself that 'the question is in a hopeful state.' Claims that 'there is no real conservatism anywhere among educated men.' Adds his opinion in relation to the use of 'esquire'.

Acknowledges receipt of the money she sent to him. Refers to his pleasant existence in Berlin, and states that he intends to go soon to Halle, then to Göttingen, and on to Heidelberg, and hopes to meet up with her in Switzerland about the middle of August. Discusses the war; believes that it might have been prevented 'if more trouble had been taken to prevent real misunderstanding on the French side'. States that, while not regarding him as a statesman, he believes in Ollivier's honesty. Does not believe that Benedetti's last request was intended as a provocation, and contends that the king of Prussia could have rejected it courteously. Claims that the 'guilt of the war rests with France', who 'claim supremacy in Europe: every other civilised nation claims only equal rights.' Hopes that the Prince of Hohenzollern 'will now retract his retraction', but thinks this unlikely. Refers to his mother's question as to 'the "good" of such a poem as [Rossetti's] "Jenny" ', and claims to not understand her meaning. Believes it to be 'a perfectly truthful delineation of common-place fact', and explains that 'the pathetic effect of the poem is intended to spring from it's [sic] fidelity to commonplace...' States that if her objection were on the grounds that the subject is too disagreeable, he would argue that the range of tragedy would be limited a good deal 'if one excluded all disagreeable subjects.' Is sorry to hear about Arthur, and asks if ' "this tyranny" throw[s] more work on the assistant masters'. With regard to his personal letters, states that there is perhaps one in a hundred of them that he would not like to be read by anyone else, because of the nature of the subject matter. Hopes that she does not mind sending them on to him.

14, Barton Street, Westminster. - Thanks Bob for his letter; replies by quoting four lines of poetry [the last lines of Browning's "By the Fire-Side"]; his 'heart is still very full' with thoughts of Bob. Bob knows the 'wretched mood' in which Crompton 'could have said vile things about the Dutch', and will 'understand and forgive'. Crompton is 'ashamed to think' how much he has 'trespassed' on Bob's goodness and put his 'sympathy to the strain', but this is because 'the heart opens & the "true self" often reveals itself in all its beastliness & baseness' to Bob more than to most people, as he is 'kind & patient & αἰσθητός [perceptive]'. Therefore knows that 'she in whom your hope has found its gracious soul... [refers to Elizabeth by quoting from Rossetti's "Love-Lily"]... is worthy' and 'blest' in knowing Bob. Says that Bob makes 'the world a better place' by letting them share in his happiness.

Writes to ask her to inform William of certain developments; that 'W.A. Wright [new member of the Ad Eundem] cannot come'; that he himself will come if his hayfever is not too bad; and that he has not yet heard from the other new member. States that he is glad to hear that he [William?] is going on so well. Expresses his regret at the news of 'the calamity', involving Dr Meyer. States that he has never met the latter, but that he has heard a good deal from Mary about a Miss Meyer. Reports that [in Cambridge] they are all 'quiet and prosperous', and that he is 'rather hard at work with a variety of teachings.' Asks whether she has got any subscriptions for him for the ladies' lectures. Reports that he has read the greater part of Disraeli's novel [Lothair?], and does not think it equal to the best of his earlier ones, but states that 'it is very light and amusing reading.' Does not think that he has read anything else lately except Rossetti's poems, some of which he judges to be 'splendid', but he would not recommend the whole book.

Florence. 6 Lungarno Torrigiani. 1ᵒ pᵒ [primo piano]. Envelope addressed to Browning at 19 Warwick Crescent, Upper Westbourne Terrace, London. - Death of Miss Isabella Blagden; attended her funeral yesterday; she had been slightly unwell since her return from England this winter. She 'has not ceased to live, as Bibi [his daughter Imogen] and I know, for we have had tidings of her through Regina, whom you remember' [Kirkup was a spiritualist and believed that he remained in communication with his first wife Regina, who died in 1856].

Isabella Blagden is buried near Browning's wife, south of her monument, 'the most magnificent in the place'. Remembers that Browning was dissatisfied in some way with 'Mr Leighton's part in the erection' but not 'in what way it was imperfect'; assures Browning that 'its general effect is imposing'.

Further discussion of spirits: they are 'alive & kicking - that is, flying with their legs, as I have often dreamed - none of our spirits have wings. They are like my master Fuseli's angels, who float by Will, not by wings'. Has 'obtained four photographs of spirits, real ones, not artificial imitations, which wd have been perfectly impossible with my precautions'.

Has much to tell Browning but cannot write or read for long; has parted with his books, 'besides, thieves had begun to steal the most valuable'. Has had to leave his old house as his landlord wanted to live there and has 'altered it and spoiled it'; his new house is 'prettier' with a 'much finer prospect. I see the Cupola as I lie in bed'. Invites Browning to visit him before he moves in May to Leghorn [Livorno], on the instructions of Isacco [a spirit]. Bibi is as tall as Regina was; has had her legitimised 'at Regina's pressing request' and she is now a 'courtesy Baroness... all vanity!'

Asks how [Browning's son] 'Penino' is; also enquires after Robert Lytton, Henry Layard, 'the poet Wilberforce' and Frederick Locker. Asks who 'Mr Addington Symonds' is: he has sent Kirkup his book on Dante. Asks whether Miss [Fanny?] Haworth is married. Never sees the Landors: gives news of 'Carlino' [Charles], Walter, and Julia. [Thomas] Trollope has 'been obliged to sell his villa, books & every thing - he had married his daughter's governess'; believes they are all in England [in fact they had moved to Rome]. Florence is 'much changed & immensely increased - millions on millions spent in building when it was the capital'; now 'no English' there.

Signs off, but adds a long postscript: spiritualism ('Spirits are almost my only friends here'); does Browning see the Rossettis or Trelawny? Discusses Lady Westmorland and her family, and Lady William [Russell?]. Has received two copies of Forster's life of Landor; wonders if he can send one back. Hates the Florentines 'for their treatment of Dante's monuments'; asks if Browning has a copy of the Arundel Society reproduction of Kirkup's sketch.