Correspondence

2952.  RB to John Westland Marston

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 17, 111.

26 Devonshire St

Sept. 23. [1851] [1]

Dear Marston,

I have been in London for a few weeks & leave it tomorrow—but, amid all the vexatious hurry of my brief stay, few things grieve me more than that I have been unable to call on you & Mrs Marston [2] & try to say, or at least—signify, how deeply I sympathize with you. [3] Will you let this poor scrap of writing pass—for the intention’s sake?—and believe that whenever I return it will be a great pleasure to me to renew our acquaintance and bring my wife into a communion with what I have valued so highly. I will hope this shall be, under happier auspices—and meanwhile beg you to remember me ever, My dear Marston, as yours most faithfully

Robert Browning.

My wife combines with kindest regard to Mrs Marston—as to yourself.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: University of North Carolina.

1. Year provided by reference to the return address.

2. Eleanor Jane Marston (née Potts, d. 1870, aged 63), born in Ireland, had married John Westland Marston in 1840.

3. On the death of their little girl, Florence Louisa, who, according to The Times of 9 September 1851, had died “suddenly” on 3 September, “aged four years and six months” (p. 9).

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