1002. RB to Unidentified Correspondent [1]
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 69–70.
New Cross, Hatcham,
Septr 3. [1842] [2]
My dear Friend,
I should take shame to myself for having so long allowed your kind note to lie in my desk unacknowledged—did not my conscience reassure me: I have been in a ferment of bother, & sure about nothing. To-morrow morning I leave for the country––not, I fear, to see Leicester—mais ça viendra avec le bon tem[p]s. [3] I have not been able to call on M. Desplace [4] —et pour cause: [5] my sister has been in the country till the end of last week, and I want to ask him to dinner: the moment I return I shall do myself that pleasure. Unluckily the train from Euston Square starts at 6 a.m.—so that to call on him, while in the neighbourhood, would be impossible. I shall not be gone long, however–
I had meant to say earlier that, by some unaccountable lapsus memoriæ, you have no recollection of my having sent back that clever article of M. Desplace, in the long letter I wrote to you about him– I particularly remember the circumstance—so will you, I hope, on a little consideration.
I have more letters to write to less pleasant people: you & all your ménage are quite well, I trust—as are all of us, here.
Ever yours,
RB
Publication: NL, p. 28 (as 3 September [?1842]).
Manuscript: Yale University.
1. The reference to Leicester suggests that the recipient of this letter may have been Camille Caillard; RB’s address book gives him a residence there as well as one in London. RB refers to him as an “old French friend” in a letter of 1 July 1845 to EBB.
2. This letter is dated by RB’s visit to Hanmer Hall, in Flintshire (see letter 1014).
3. “But that will come in good time.”
4. RB’s early address book (now at Yale; see Reconstruction, E520) lists a Desplace at 8 Carey Street, Rathbone Place, replacing a former address, 38 George Street, Hampstead Road. This may be the J.B. Desplace who later was co-editor of Le Garde National in Paris.
5. “With reason.”
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