Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Autograph letter signed : London, to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, [1843 December 15?].

BIB_ID
402517
Accession number
MA 3449.34
Creator
Horne, R. H. (Richard H.), 1802-1884.
Display Date
[1843 December 15?].
Description
1 item (6 pages) ; 10.8 x 9.1 cm + envelope
Notes
Envelope addressed to "Miss E.B. Barrett."
Possible date of writing from published version of the letter cited below.
Written from 5 Fortress Terrace.
Summary
Discussing poetry, Tennyson and other poets; saying "Yes, I knew Tennyson was in bad health - I saw him about six weeks ago, and sat up half the night with him talking of Poetry. He has no idea that I am a musician, and it might be months or years that I was intimate with anyone who had a feeling for and knowledge of the highest orders of poetry, and that anyone never be aware of by Instrumentalities....Whoever assured you that I cared little or nothing for poetry, say to them - do you know Mr. Horne thinks the finest line he ever wrote is in nearly the last words of Cosmo - who speaks of, - / Oblivion, crown'd with infinite blank stars / Then, when you hear the reply, you will judge why, if I know this person, I have never been engaged in much conversation on poetry with the same. It is pride, rather than modesty, I fear, which always keeps me silent as to my own doings in poetry - and disposed to evade the subject. Of such poetry as Tennyson's or Wordsworth's deepest, or Keat's sweetest - or any such as have Power or Beauty, I am also silent for the sake of their pride - by sympathy - by reverence and care for them, and theirs. No need, you know, to repeat this, in any of these words, to the erring party. Tastes differ. You do not admire Mr. Reade - and Read[e] talks of Tennyson as 'pretty' and of Landor as 'no poet';" asking, in a postscript, if she will write something more for him; and telling her that she "...will be pleased to know that I think Tennyson has no sort of organic complaint. I firmly believe it is only wheels out of order - and that his dimness of sight, and fears of its loss, is merely a nervous affection. He is living upon regimen, and seems to be taking care of himself, pretty much in the best way;" asking, in a postscript written on the inside of the envelope flap, that she return the enclosed proof with her marginal notes; asking in a second postscript, written on the outside of the envelope flap, if she has the "...No. of Blackwood in which you and Milnes are 'treated?' Can you lend it to me: If not, what date?"