3652. RB to Robert Browning, Sr.
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 305–306.
13 Dorset St Baker St
Wednesday night. [10 October 1855] [1]
Dearest Papa,
Sarianna will tell you that I am trying to dispose of the “Nomenclator” [2] to a proper Bookseller. It is evident that the plan is quite novel and ingenious; and as I ask only a moderate sum for it, I have great hope of being able to shew you some return, however inadequate, for what must have been a considerable labour. [3] You must not be sanguine, however. I shall soon know the result. Meanwhile, I & Ba have thrown your notes, and some explanatory passages that occurred in your letters, into a very sufficient preface. [4] I do not know what you meant to do with the twelve pages of “Genesis”—a sort of second beginning of the work, with variations: as the completed work ought to be the better of the two,—and as this, if any improvement, only is at its beginning,—I did not show it, lest a confusion might arise, and the publisher might postpone deciding till he saw the best you could do. If there is any manifest advantage you can alter the old copy—as I shall take care that you have it once more for final revision—exactness being the great object of such a work, and it seeming possible that you may have sometimes put a round for a square, & so on. As for the colouring,—I find that it would add so materially to the expense of the publication that we must give it up—contenting ourselves with recommending such a system of distinctive colours in the preface,—and substituting some other mark for the rounds “indicating affinity” which you paint blue: they might be thus, for instance or Illus. .
You will be happy to have Sis back—and we should be as unhappy to lose her, were it not that we follow in a week, and profit so greatly besides by her goodness. [5] You must prepare to be teazed to death by Pennini, who will want drawing-lessons and other delights. I wish we could have got at your books—but Sarianna will explain why it was impossible. The moment she gets lodgings (which will be directly) we can have them in a lump—and you run no risk of their loss, so long as the bundles are untouched. I write no more, trusting to see you so soon. Sarianna has been a dearest of darlings. Ba sends her warmest love—and Penini would do so, I know, were he not sound asleep. God bless you, dearest Papa,
Yours ever most affectionately,
Robert.
I send you the two titles & contents of my new book–
Address: Robert Browning Esq.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Date provided by RB’s mention of following Sarianna to Paris “in a week.” The Brownings left London on 17 October 1855.
2. A reference work compiled by RB, Sr. consisting of genealogies of Biblical characters occurring in the Old Testament. See Appendix IV where “The Nomenclator” is described in the “Preface” RB mentions below.
3. We have been unable to trace any publication of “The Nomenclator.”
4. See Appendix IV.
5. As EBB indicates in the second paragraph of letter 3664, Sarianna had gone ahead of the Brownings to Paris in order to try freeing them from a lease on an apartment at 102 Rue de Grenelle, which the Corkrans had taken for them.
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