3309. RB to Edward Chapman

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 20, 41.

Rome, Via di Bocca del Leone, 43.

al 3o piano

Decr 29. ’53.

Dear Mr Chapman,

You will observe we are wintering here, not at Florence—and we should be glad to have any notice you can give us of the progress & prospects of the New Edition, [1] as well as of last half-year’s account of the sale of the other books—they seemed thriving somewhat by your last report, tho’ I did not trouble you for the gross receipts. How is Forster? He don’t write to me. I fear he is not well again. We have a noticeable gathering of visitors. Thackeray for a great instance. Dickens came & went squib-fashion. These parts are somewhat behind in the march—it is hard to get reviews and newspapers, & impossible to find books– I see an odd “Athenæum” now & then. Have you done anything memorable; published,—or undertaken to publish? The winter has been too mild here,—very different from yours, I engage—but a touch of cold gives the Christmas feeling today. Happy new year to you,—& dear foolish Aberdeen-ridden old England! My wife is very well and desires her kind remembrances may go with

those of, yours ever faithfully,

Robert Browning.

Address, on integral page: E. Chapman Esq. / 193 Piccadilly.

Docket, in unidentified hand: Delayed by mistake.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: University of Texas.

1. EBB’s Poems (1853), which was published on 12 October.

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