1015. RB to Thomas Powell
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 90.
New Cross, Hatcham, Surrey.
Saty Mg [ca. October 1842] [1]
Dear Sir,
I am sure I am highly obliged to you for your attentive kindness with respect to Mr Lough, [2] and for the two volumes of verse now on my table. [3] I have not as yet found time for the steady perusal I must give them—but a glance at some of the smaller pieces has already convinced me of the injustice of your styling their appearance in print, an “infliction.”
We are neighbours, as you say, and I, for my part, shall be happy to see you here—I hope to be at home in the Evenings more frequently than I have been of late.
You possess, I think, Sordello &c already: may I beg your acceptance of my last pamphlet?– [4] I may possibly print two or three other numbers ere the year ends, and will duly forward them.
Yours, Dear Sir, very
truly & obliged,
Robt Browning.
Thomas Powell Esq–
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: R.H. Taylor Collection.
1. Dated by the gift of Powell’s poems.
2. John Graham Lough (1798–1876), a sculptor, had exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1826, subsequently being commissioned to make two statues for the Duke of Wellington. He studied in Rome for four years from 1834 and found much employment on his return to London; his later works included statues of the Queen and Prince Albert.
3. Powell’s Poems and The Count de Foix were both listed as new publications in the October issue of The Gentleman’s Magazine. RB’s copy of the former is now at Stanford (see Reconstruction, A1889).
4. RB had published King Victor and King Charles in March 1842; it was followed by Dramatic Lyrics in November 1842.
___________________
