3753. EBB to Lady Augusta Bruce

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 22, 160.

3 Rue du Colysée

Friday—four oclock—p. m. [21 March 1856] [1]

My dear Lady Augusta,

I am quite sorry to have to write this,—but really my husband is so unwell that I have at last persuaded him to give up the pleasure of reading to dear Lady Elgin tonight. Will you give her my love & say that he very reluctantly puts off the Keats to next friday. It is all I can do to prevail. He was persistent about it till five minutes back. But he has a throat much affected, .. & for him to go out in the night air & fog, would be a risk which I cannot be patient about his running in his present state.

Ever most truly yours,

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Dated by the postponement of RB’s reading Keats to Lady Elgin. In letter 3757, EBB writes: “Last friday he [RB] was able to recommence his reading of Keats for Lady Elgin.”

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