Correspondence

3794.  Anna Brownell Jameson to RB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 22, 230–231.

June 5– [1856] [1]

My dear Browning–

I write to you this time instead of writing to dearest Ba—knowing how her whole mind & time must now be occupied—this has prevented me from writing to her for the last ten days– Of course you know about Mr Kenyon—that he is rather better on the whole, since he went to the Isle of Wight– Madame Braun has just gone to join Miss Bailey there– I saw Mrs Procter yesterday—& she told me that she knew of several lodgings which she thought would suit you—& would send them to Arabella if she had not yet decided on any for you. Of course I went directly to 50 Wimpole St to tell this—but I found that your sister in law was absent out of town [2] & not expected (the servant said) till the end of next week—can I be of any use to you dear friends? write & tell me—if I can—I am scribbling on the assumption that you are to be here on the 15th but perhaps you may have altered your plans–

You will be glad to hear that Madame Ristori has had a very complete success– [3] I went last night to witness her first appearance—it was a triumph—& the audience far more enthusiastic than is usual with our phlegmatic people—but in truth she is a magnificent creature—I was rather glad to see that she was quite overpowered when called forward—she is the greater artist that she remains a sensitive woman.

—I heard yesterday that your friend Forster is to be married very soon to the widow of Colburn the bookseller—but this perhaps you know[.] [4]

—I have many more things to tell you—but as I hope to see you next week, & to hear from you soon—& am hurried by business I add no more only—what is quite superfluous as I hope—that I am ever yours & dear Ba’s affecte friend

Anna Jameson

Address: France / Robert Browning Esq / 3. Rue du Colisée / Champs Elysées / à Paris.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Yale University.

1. Year provided by postmark.

2. At the Carmichaels’ house in Kent; see letter 3788, note 9.

3. Adelaide Ristori (1822–1906) opened in the title role of Medea at the Lyceum Theatre, London, on 4 June 1856. In her autobiography, she writes: “The English public were so greatly prejudiced in my favor by the French, German, and Belgian newspapers, that they gave me the warmest welcome, and came in crowds to hear me, showing me the most flattering signs of sympathy and esteem” (Adelaide Ristori. Studies and Memoirs, Boston, 1888, p. 55).

4. Eliza Ann Colburn (née Crosbie, 1815–94), daughter of Capt. Robert Crosbie R.N., was the second wife of the publisher Henry Colburn (d. 1855, aged 65). She was married to John Forster on 24 September 1856.

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