3701. RB to John A.C. Gray
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 22, 53–54.
Paris, Rue du Colisée, 3.
Decr 27. ’55.
My dear Sir, [1]
At last your letter returns to me from Florence after being delayed, I don’t know how long, by the Post Office here—which only redelivers such letters to personal applicants: and how are these to know? But I was apprised some time back by Mr Fields of the offer of Mr Francis to increase his payment to £75 [2] —and Mr Fields has long since received our acknowledgements to Mr Francis, and our best thanks to yourself—whose agency in the matter has brought about this good result. Mr Fields has behaved very liberally to me in the matter of my own book—as I wish everybody may know: and such an example will soon be followed generally, let us all hope. My wife’s poem will be despatched to Mr Francis the moment it is ready, according to our convention. We got into cold rooms on arriving here two months ago—but are better situated now and at something more like our Tuscan ease. My wife’s true thanks, and kind remembrances to you & Mrs Gray [3] accompany those, my dear Sir,
of yours, much obliged & faithful,
Robert Browning.
May I ask the favor of your sending the enclosed to its address? [4] I am uncertain about the fate of many letters I send to the U.S:—some friends of ours discovered, a week ago, five letters here at the office unforwarded for some reason or no-reason. I have written, for instance, twice to Mr Fields & once to Mr Story—taking what seemed the proper precautions; but perhaps with no better success.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection.
1. John Alexander Clinton Gray (1815–98); see letter 3618, note 6.
3. Susan Maria Gray (née Zabriskie, 1814–1904).
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