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Sidney Lanier Collection, Accession 6957-a, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library
Deposit, 1964 February 24
Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
[Published as "A Song of Eternity in Time"]
[Published as "A Song of Eternity in Time." Written to Mrs. Fred M. Steele . ]
[In memory of John Keats ]
[Speaks of his miserable trip from Philadelphia to Baltimore . Explains that an attack of pleurodyraia has kept him from thanking her sooner. Sends greetings to Gibson Peacock . Mentions Edward Jenkins , Grinx's Baby: His birth and Other Misfortunes , and Dante Alighieri . ]
[Mentions his paper, "A Forgotten English Poet," about Bartholomew Griffin , which he sent through A. S. Barnes & Co. and wanted offered to International Review . Asks if it has arrived, as he has received no acknowledgment.]
[Sends two poems, "Sunset" and another, as more representative than anything he sent before. Says they will be better than "Betrayal," which is one of the songs from "The Jacquerie." Notes that "Sunset" was set to music by Dudley Buck after it appeared in Lippincott's Magazine ; the second poem was published in Scribner's Monthly . Thanks correspondent for article on Paul Hamilton Hayne . ]
[Thanks for the Portfolio of Proof Impressions . Says that the world is indebted for their work with wood-engraving. He particularly likes the one of Ralph Waldo Emerson . ]
[Sends Sidney Lanier 's poem "Strange Jokes," discussing it briefly and asking for word on it soon. Thanks him for letter. Says that few realize that Lanier's genius "was of that order which must make laws unto itself." Claims illness prevented her writing more fully. Mentions [William Hand] Browne , Joseph's brethren, William Kirkus . ]
[Says she has tried to fulfill Mrs. Strickland's wish, but only this verse remained, as she has stored most of the original poems in Baltimore . She has added Sidney Lanier 's signature from a letter. Adds that she is sending them to him as she feels his office can add something from William Hayes Ward . ]
[Thanks him for his letter. Expresses a desire to see him. Mentions traveling for her health, and her father Charles Day 's death. Tells of her friend Lt. John McIntosh Kell , who served with Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry on the expedition to Japan. Thanks for his description of his pastoral work. Says she would like to complete the amendments to his copy of The English Novel . ]
[Apologizes for not handling his request sooner. Says she has assumed that everything she sent must be accompanied by Sidney Lanier 's signature and she can't find anything with his later handwriting. Gives a brief analysis of Lanier's handwriting over the years. Paret may keep enclosed title page to How to Read Chaucer , and envelopes. Suggests he contact Daniel Coit Gilman . Says that How to Read Chaucer was never completed because Lanier waited to find a publisher before he started.]
[Says she is a guest of Sara Thorpe Bull for a few days and would like to meet him. Expresses gratitude for his friendship to Sidney Lanier . ]