1678. EBB to John Kenyon

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 9, 90–91.

[London]

Saturday. [10 August 1844] [1]

Dearest Mr Kenyon,

I send you the books at last. I wrote as you desired me,—and the answer was that the publication wd not take place until tuesday, but that I shd have six copies on saturday. And this is your’s, out of them!

Observe that I have taken the liberty (without permission asked) to inscribe ‘Dead Pan’ to you [2] —but as it really belongs to you, I had the less scruple.

My sense of all your kindness I never can express or cease to remember. Do believe that of me—believing me

your affectionate & grateful

EBB–

The book is beautifully done up—& I am delighted with it––green & gold & all. [3]

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Dated by the publication of EBB’s Poems (1844) on 13 August 1844; the previous Saturday was the 10th.

2. “The Dead Pan” was prefaced by a three-paragraph note, which included the following: “As Mr. Kenyon’s graceful and harmonious paraphrase of the German poem was the first occasion of the turning of my thoughts in this direction, I take advantage of the pretence to indulge my feelings (which overflow on other grounds) by inscribing my lyric to that dear friend and relative, with the earnestness of appreciating esteem as well as of affectionate gratitude.”

3. See letter 1669, note 1.

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