Sheehan, John, Irish journalist (1812-1882). Autograph letter signed.

75a Albany Street, Regent's Park (London), 16. VI. 1877.

8vo. 4 pp. on bifolium. With autograph address.

 240.00

To the Revd. W. Borrow about an upcoming meeting, with some suggestions for his poetic work: "The appointment at Metzler's for 3 to 3.30 on Thursday will suit me very well. Don't postpone our meeting, however, to the following week, as I must be, I am afraid, then out of town. I can't make out what you mean by 'I fear we shall have to do without the words unless you will kindly take the air'. You are sure to succeed, after all that has passed between us. 'Possunt qui posse videntur'. You cannot be too simple for me - as Nora Creina's gown, if you like, & as you say, or 'simplex munditiis' when Pyrrha wove her coronal of hair for her enamoured stripling. Everything however is in the 'munditiae' & 'the mountain breezes'. I meant the former when I hinted at Lydian measure, being suitable to the elegant & soft parts of our little Hebe, and I should not like Aeolus to manage the latter as he did for Ulysses, when I hinted at a dithyrambic touch ... reason (with the Chorus perhaps.) But do as you chose. I have no doubt you'll canter over the course as easily & as nicely as possible. Change the termination of those lines of the 2nd Stanza by all means. Will these do? 'Though his locks to gray may turn, | Age shall not be left to mourn'! If not, I'll try again. Addio! [...]".

Sheehan, who enjoyed a short career as a barrister, was parliamentary reporter of the Morning Herald, contributing also poems and sketches to Bentley's Miscellany and other magazines. He was a good friend of Thackeray and is believed to be the model for Captain Shandon in "Pendennis".

Two strips of old mounting tape on verso. Enclosed is the clipping of an envelope with an autograph address, mounted on thin cardboard.

Stock Code: BN#53375 Tags: ,