3483. RB to Edward Chapman

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 20, 338.

[Florence]

Oct. 24. [1854] [1]

Dear Mr Chapman,

Many thanks for your punctual attendance to our commissions. I am forced to trouble you again. Would you have the goodness to get the intermediate parts between the 1st & 6th (which were sent)—viz. the 2d 3d 4th & 5th of Miss Edgeworth’s “Stories for Children.” [2] One copy of my wife’s Poems. Two dozen of the “Two Poems”– Directing the same to “R.B. Florence.” under cover to

W. Cassels Esq. care of Messrs John Peel & Co

23 Peel St Manchester.

To be forwarded by steamer.

Paying the carriage to Manchester, and charging all expenses to the account of

Yours much hurried but very truly

Robert Browning.

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

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: British Library.

1. Year provided by reference to RB’s commission for Chapman, which EBB mentions in a letter to Arabella, dated 26 November [1854] (ms at Berg).

2. Later correspondence suggests that Chapman sent parts of Frank, Rosamond, and Harry and Lucy, all of which had first appeared as stories in Early Lessons (1801). Continuations of these in multiple parts were marketed under the general title of Stories for Children (see The Publishers’ Circular for 15 December 1851, p. 442).

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