12 Cork St., B[urlington] G[ardens]. - Thanks for Wortley's £2; not sure of current balance as Salomons is away; probable costs of granite monument to Hood with a bronze bust by Campbell; favours very simple inscription. Should not get involved with publication of Hood's verse; Moxon will get someone like Dickens to ensure sales. Pleased by Houghton's appreciation of George Sand and the 'humanitaires' but the Fourierists are superior in their ability to organise labour; Milnes would see this if he could conquer his aversion to Fourier's neologisms and read attentively. 'Suppose you stood naked on Kennington Common, on a frosty day, which would you prefer - A humanitaire contemplating you with moistened heavenward eyes & folded arms... A Lord Ashley, who would put you on one glove towards clothing you... Or a Fourierist who would furnish you with a complete suit, and supply its proper warmth to every shivering nerve?' - only the last can solve problems as diverse as the destiny of Constantinople and the economy of a poultry yard; breadth of vision. If visiting Paris Milnes must meet Daly and Pelletan, 'a cher ami once I fancy of G. Sand'.
40: copy of letter to "Mrs A. B. C.", May 1843
73: enclosing letter from J. W. Langtree.
Colombo, 'Ratnapoora, last address'. - Thanks for Milnes' reply and the books, which must still be on their way up river; will draw up reminiscences when he has read Milnes' Keats; asks whether it was 'poor Jane Reynolds' who reported his death; contrast with unexpected deaths of others. Knows little of the MacCarthys. Will send books, which, 'as the biographer of Keats... [Milnes] ought to have'. Poem quoted by Milnes is one Keats copied in a letter from Oxford from a scare volume of poetry by Katherine Philips; Milnes might rebind it in honour of Keats and the writer. Bailey bought it at Thrale auction in 1816; also has a copy of the first edition of Endymion, which he reviewed in the Oxford Herald; has arranged for this review to be sent to Milnes; his other publications. Sir J. E. Tennant will vouch for the unpromising literary environment of Ceylon. Requests Moxon's edition of Keats.
'I extracted a sentence from one of Keats's letters to myself which sounds very melancholy... but which shows the just confidence he had in himself: "At one time or other I will do you a pleasure, and the poets a little justice; but it ought to be in a poem of greater moment than Endymion, I will do it some day". That day never came; but the fragment of Hyperion shows what he could have done, had his life been spared'.
Dover Street. - Forwarding copies of Milnes' Poems and Memorials of a Tour in Greece; also encloses account: 'as the publication of your volumes has been a source of pleasure rather than profit to me, I shall feel obliger by your favouring me with a cheque for the balance at your earliest convenience'. Enclosed: accounts for publication costs of Milnes' poetry since Apr. 1838.
London. - Thanks Milnes for payment of balance; possible cheap edition; has just added Joanna Baillie for 2 shillings.
For Milnes' two volume edition of Poems, Poetry for the Peaople, and Memorials of a Tour in Greece.
Dover Street. - Thanks Milnes for £100 on account; requests £50 more of £87 balance outstanding. Mrs [Caroline?] Norton has not received the alleged sum 'Tis all Fudge, a mere Puff'.
62 Rutland Gate. - Unable to discover when last volumes of Hogg's Shelley are to be published as Moxon has taken the secret to his grave; what a reception Rogers will give Moxon for the Table Talk; [unnamed] contributor ('almost as deeply read in the Russian Classics as yourself') is preparing an article on the Emancipation of Russian serfs. Tourgeneff should provide useful material. Milnes' opposition to attak on Froude's defence of Henry VIII. Starting for Rome next week. Longman will send Shelley if it appears.
For Milnes' Selected Poems and LIfe and Letters of Keats