
I was extremely obliged to you for the present of your photograph & books; the
vol. of poems
containing (what I now read for the first time in that shape) the important section of
Passage to India, &
many modifications here & there in other compositions. It happens that I have lately been compiling a
vol. of selections from
American Poets, & I had had to use your earlier editions for
the purposes of this compilation: but I have now set those aside, & used your new edition throughout—so the kind &
welcome gift came to me at a very apposite moment. I confess to a certain reluctance to lose the old title "A Voice out of the
Sea" of that most splendid poem (rated by most of your English admirers, I observe, as
the finest of all, tho though
I am not prepared to acquiesce in that
estimate): however, in this as all
other respects where the editions differ, I have followed your new edition. Many thanks also for the separate poem subsequently
received "After all, not to create only"—replete with impor
tant
truths.—I don't well know when my American Selection will be out: my work on it is done, & the rest depends on the
printer & publisher. I shall hope to beg your acceptance of a copy in due course.
I sent on the copy of your works transmitted for "The Lady," after some little delay occasioned by my being
absent from England up to the end of August. She was (& I think still is) in the country: but, to judge from a letter of
acknowledgement she wrote me, you have probably by this time heard from her direct. I know also that you have heard from Profr.
Dowden, the writer of the ar ticle
in the Westminster.
Mr. Burroughs called hereon 5 Octr., & is to dine with us tomorrow: I like his frank manly aspect & tone, & need not say that you were a principal subject of conversation between us. He seems very considerably impressed with the objects & matter of interest in London: I wish it might be my good fortune to see you here also some day. Rumours of your projected arrival have been rife for some while past, but, as I learn from Burroughs, the prospect is as yet not a very definite one.
Believe me Most respectfully your friend, W. M. Rossetti.
