Correspondence

6045. RB to Emilie Schlesinger

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 309.

19. W. C.

Monday Mg [2 May 1868] [1]

Dear Mrs Schlesinger, [2]

Pray forgive the delay in answering your note and thanking you for its kind invitation: I was unable to say, before now, whether I had an engagement for next Saturday Eg: I have none—except yours, which is a great pleasure to

Your ever faithful

Robert Browning.

All regard to your Husband.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Dating based on the stationery’s watermark of 1868 and RB’s reference to an invitation for “next Saturday Eg.” In letter 6047, dated 6 May 1868, RB refers to the Schlesingers’ dinner taking place “tomorrow.”

2. Emilie Schlesinger (née Berly, 1846–1936), daughter of Frederick Berly (1810–90), of New York, and his wife, Mary Ann (née Barnard, formerly Van Amburgh, 1819–1901). In 1863 she married Henry Schlesinger (1830–1912). Fannie Browning (née Coddington, 1853–1935) was her second cousin.

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