[A.C. Swinburne] Substantial Autograph Letter Signed A C Swinburne to Walter [Theodore Watts-Dunton=Walter] with family news, a reading of Sidney's 'Arcadia', a coincidence of phraseology between 'Arcadia' and 'The Duchess of Malfi', etc.

Eight pages, 12mo, two bifoliums, one page stained but legible, mainly good condition. He discusses holiday plans initially for his Aunt Mary, and how they affect his own and others (we). He continues: Your sonnet on Columbus is greatly admired here - not least by me, who think [sic] it quite one of your finest. | I have just finished reading the photographic reprint of the Arcadia (4o) & I want you to send me (by return of post if possible) the small folio edition of Sir Philip Sidney's Works which you will find (as preachers say of their texts) on the lowest shelf of my bookcase on the right hand of the door as you go in. I want to read the latter part of the story (not in the first ed[itio]n) at once while the impression is fresh on my mind & my spiritual palate still relishes the flavour of a romance which can never have been read among more appropriate surroundings tah in this beautiful old-fashioned garden [...] full of big brilliant old English flowers, tall & stately & sedate as the Sidneian style of rhetoric[.] There are lovely things in the book as well as the garden - but I was specially struck by discovering in it two noble passages transpalnted almost word by word into The Dichess of Malfi [underlined], which I had always thought specially characteristic of Webster - who must have ben almost as cool a hand as Moliere. As I have not a copy by me will you kindly look up for me the passage in the third act where Ferdinand breaks in upon the Duchess with the words -'Virtue, where art thou hid? what [?] ' Is this [another hand corrects to 'it'] that doth eclipse thee? [more corrective pencilled additions in another hand] Are the two words I am not sure of 'hideous thing'? It is so in Sidney [pencilled line in unknow hand]. I want also one of those last photographs of myself taken in our garden, which I have promised my old nurse (now our housekeeper, you know) a copyof to send her sister, who was second nurse in our nursery days. | I should also be very much obliged if you could send one - who am in want of light reading here (the Arcadia is not exactly down or gossamer) - one or two books from the library - 'In the Roar of the Sea' Baring Gould) for one - & most especially F.G. Fleay' 'Biographical Chronicle of the English Drama. 1559-1642': on which work there was a goodish article - did you read it? - in the Academy of July 30th. I have just made an exhaustive division of Heywood's twenty-five plays into four classes, which will help me forward in the arrangement & composition of my essay on the subject. [?] rather we hope you will be able to look us up here after Aunt [Ju?] leaves us & before you & I go off for the seaside. You would enjopy this quaint high-lying house & garden, & some of the meadow & woodland walks I have been taking in the neighbourhood with Alice, who I am glad to say is in excellent walking form. Let me here how Meredith [George Meredith, novelist] goes on, after you have seen him. I am sorry he has been so ill. | With kind regards from & to all | Ever yours affect[ionatel]y | ACSwinburne. Note: A. Theodore Watts-Dunton, Swinburne's companion on Putney Hill was born 'Walter Theodore Watts' The pencilled notes are by Watts-Dunton; B. This letter has been extracted from an Album which mainly contained letters to George Meredith or his daughter from distinguished contemporary authors (Thomas Hardy, George Eliot, Henry James etc.). But the album also had letters like this one, not involving the Meredith family. This suggests that Marie Meredith, who, I assume, put the album together, was an autograph collector.