2806. EBB to Mary Ann Smith
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 15, 322.
[Bagni di Lucca]
9 August [1849] [1]
Offered for sale in Sotheby’s Catalogue, 27 November 1889, lot 33. 3½ pp. 12mo. EBB requests the return of her letters to Mr. Boyd: “It is better for me to use straight forward words in adding the expression of insurmountable objection to the putting to any use of the kind those letters of mine, either in part or in whole. While I live I have always refused and must refuse (and do forgive me if it sounds ungracious in me to say so) my letters to any such use—& this personal objection of mine being more than equally shared by my husband, you will understand how impossible it is to overcome … Now would anybody like to publish their own letters?”
1. Year suggested by reference to the opening paragraph of letter 2794 in which EBB asks Arabella to forward a “note” to Mrs. Smith. It seems probable that Mrs. Smith responded to the “note” and that the present letter is EBB’s reply.
___________________
