14 April 1828. Price, Uvedale to Browning, Elizabeth Barrett.

              Foxley

April 14th 1828

Dear Ba

In one or two of your letters to Caroline, a very flattering hint was given that you should not be sorry to hear from me; but with a very obliging & considerate scruple lest it should take up too much of my time; which in truth, as your correspondent, I believe has told you, for some time past has been very much occupied. I may add, that what with weak eyes, a weak & irritable stomach, & a few other infirmities the time that I am able to employ in the course of a day, is often but a small portion of it. I have lately been distributing copies of my Essay (after the tedious, but necessary pen-correction of each copy) to several of my old friends whom I had neglected, & to several learned persons from whom I hoped to obtain remarks & criticisms: I was obliged to accompany the copies with letters; often to answer the answers, &, as some of them contained objections to my doctrines, was occasionally drawn into controversy. All this, tho’ at times it pressed rather too hard upon me, has been productive of no small degree of interest & amusement. I have kept together all the answers that have been given by those who have receiv’d my Essay; the variety, in every way, is extremely amusing; & the collection altogether a very good example (were any required) of the affirmation, in regard to a quaint, scholastic question debated in the old schools, “an quisquid recipitur, ad modum recipientis recipiatur.” The letters vary,—according to the mode of the Recipient,—from unmixed praise & complete coincidence of opinion, to a mixture of praise & censure in various degrees & proportions,—& again to reprobation & contempt, almost to abuse, without any commendation. I expect more letters, & some that are likely to be interesting: but having a short respite at this moment, I cannot employ the time so pleasantly as in conversing with you at a distance, “en attendant mieux:” & that mieux I look forward to with no less pleasure than my daughter, & more is impossible. Every person at all acquainted with Mrs Barrett, must have been sorry to hear of her tedious & painful illness: how much more those who have long known her, & the whole of her amiable & affectionate character! Your last accounts are very consoling, as her recovery, tho’ slow, seems regular & constant. I very earnestly wish that it may continue so, & that there may be no check