Literary Life of the Rev. William Harness
Mary Russell Mitford to William Harness, 4 November 1839
“Three Mile Cross, November 4th, 1839.
“My dear Friend,
“Let me thank you most sincerely and heartily for the thrice
beautiful play. I have read it with
equal pride and pleasure—a triumphant pleasure in such an evidence of the sweet
and gentle power of my oldest and, I might almost say, my kindest friend. It breathes
the spirit of the old dramatists from first to last, especially of Heywood, whose ‘Woman killed with Kindness’ is forcibly
recalled; but by that sort of resemblance which springs from a congeniality of talent,
and makes one say, ‘Heywood might have written this, although
there is much more of the letter of poetry, more finished and beautiful passages, than
can be found in any single play of the ‘Prose
Shakespeare.’ I do not know when I have read a drama which
bore such evi-![]()
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dence of the
author’s mind, so good, so pure, so indulgent, so gentlemanly. Lady Dacre told me that it was full of beauty; but I did
not expect so much poetry, and I feel sincerely grateful to Mr. Dyce (whom I always liked very heartily on his own account) for
rescuing this charming play from the flames. When I said that I had not for a long time
seen a drama so full of the author, I fibbed unconsciously, for it is into plays that
authors do put their very selves. The character of Kessel is very beautiful and original, and the high-minded Albert, and poor, poor Margaret, have made me cry more than I can tell. At all events, I rejoice
to have it printed. It fixes you in the same high position poetically that you have
always occupied socially and professionally. It is a thing for your friends to be proud
of, in every sense of the word. If the tableaux go on, I shall come to you for a
dramatic scene. Has that book been sent yet? You will be very much pleased with
Miss Barrett’s ballad, in spite of a little want of clearness, and with
Mr. Proctor’s spirited poem. In short,
it is the only book bearing my name of which I was ever proud; but if we go on, I shall
be still prouder next year to have you added to my list of poets and friends. What a
thing it is, by mere self-postponement and sympathy in the claims of others, to have
hidden such a gift! It is just like what your ![]()
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sister does, who—cleverer and better than
half her acquaintances—always speaks of herself as nobody.
“God bless you! A thousand thanks for all your kindness.
“Ever most faithfully yours,
Barbarina Brand, Lady Dacre [née Ogle] (1768-1854)
The daughter of Admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle; she married in 1789 Valentine Henry Wilmot (d.
1819), and in 1819, Thomas Brand, twentieth Baron Dacre. She was the author of
Ina, a Tragedy (1815) and
Dramas, Translations,
and Occasional Poems (1821).
Elizabeth Browning [née Barrett] (1806-1861)
English poet, author of
Sonnets from the Portuguese (1850) and
Aurora Leigh (1856); she married Robert Browning in 1846.
Alexander Dyce (1798-1869)
Editor and antiquary, educated at Edinburgh High School and Exeter College, Oxford; he
published
Recollections of the Table-Talk of Samuel Rogers
(1856).
Thomas Heywood (1573 c.-1641)
English poet and playwright; he wrote
A Woman Killed with Kindness
(1603) and
An Apology for Actors (1612).
Mary Russell Mitford (1787-1855)
English poet, playwright, and essayist; author of
Our Village: Sketches
of Rural Character and Scenery (1824, etc.).
Bryan Waller Procter [Barry Cornwall] (1787-1874)
English poet; a contemporary of Byron at Harrow, and friend of Leigh Hunt and Charles
Lamb. He was the author of several volumes of poem and
Mirandola, a
tragedy (1821).
