A C Swinburne: ‘An appeal to England’
This is the only manuscript of Swinburne in the possession of the College Library apart from his letters to George Powell. This poem was prompted by the execution of three Fenians for killing a police officer in November 1867 and urges mercy in England’s treatment of Ireland. It is in keeping with other poems of this period in which Swinburne was preoccupied with the idea of liberty and freedom. It appeared in the Morning Star and in broadside and pamphlet form before appearing in Swinburne’s Songs before Sunrise in 1871
The friendship between Swinburne and George Powell lasted from 1865 until Powell’s death in 1882. For some years Swinburne and Powell met frequently. Powell dedicated the Legends of Iceland of 1866 to Swinburne and Lord Dufferin. Swinburne visited Powell in Wales and at Etretat in Normandy. While at Etretat, Swinburne had a narrow escape from drowning while out swimming with Powell; Guy de Maupassant saw the accident and used it in one of his stories, ‘L’anglais d’Etretat’ and Swinburne’s poem ‘Ex voto’ was inspired by this event. Swinburne found Powell a useful friend and his letters to him include many appeals for help in mundane matters such as finding new lodgings, settling bills, moving his belongings and sending him reviews of his work as they appeared.
When Powell died in 1882, Swinburne sincerely mourned his death. Three poems in A century of roundels (1883) recall the friendship between the two men.
