Beschreibung:

VERLAINE, Paul (1844-1896). Autograph poem signed entitled 'Toast á S.Em. Bally', 4 verses, 14 lines, dated 30 January 1894, one page, 8vo (175 x 110mm) ; with two autograph letters signed and one autograph envelope to Emile Bally, Paris, 31 January 1894 and n.d. (envelope postmarked 1 June 1894) , the first expressing regret at separation and enclosing the poem, the second sending condolences on the death of the Rev. London, regretting his ignorance of German and admiring the translations of Faust by de Nerval, de Blaze, de Bury, 'et d'un traduceur très exact, parait il, dont le nom m'échappe en le moment', enquiring about a Manchester collector possessing the painting 'Coin de Table' by Fantin Latour showing the author, Rimbaud, d'Hervilly and others at a table and asking help in tracing it, 6 pages, 8vo (175 x 110mm) (split in folds, the second letter browned). Verlaine visited Manchester on 1 December 1893 to give a lecture. He was met at the railway station by the Rev. Theodore London, with whom he stayed at Salford, and Emile Bally, a native of Geneva then a teacher at Manchester Grammar School. Verlaine's lecture on Racine and Shakespeare was held at the New Windsor Schools, presided over by the Rev. London, after which the vote of thanks was proposed by Bally. On his return to Paris he sent to the Rev. London a copy of his Souvenir de Manchester , and to Bally the poem Toast , with permission to publish it. The poem was published in Le Figaro by G. Jean-Aubry-on 7 February 1934, and included in the Oeuvre poétiques complètes in 1948. Verlaine's letter of 1 June relates to the news relayed by Bally of the death of the Rev. London, who had hoped to organise another conference in Manchester the following November, 'Vous voudrez bien, n'est-ce pas, dire á Mlle London et á son frère toute la part sincère que je prends á leur douleur. Je n'en reviens pas de cette mort. Un homme tout jeune, si fort. Ce que c'est que de nous, bon Dieu'. The painting by Fantin Latour, its exact whereabouts then unknown, is now in the Louvre. S.Emile Bally was born in Geneva in 1857, and educated there and at Zurich University. His decision to travel took him to Austria, Germany, France, and to England, where he taught at various schools before settling at Manchester Grammar School. About 1903 a severe accident forced his return to Switzerland, where he remained until 1914, when he returned to England and Manchester Grammar School where he taught until he retired in 1922. He died in 1948. (4)