3871. RB to Leigh Hunt

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 71.

39 Devonshire Place.

Oct. 3. ’56.

My dear Mr Hunt,

You see how unfortunate we have been; our stay in the country was prolonged till two days since by circumstances beyond our control. Are we necessarily to lose the great delight of your visit? I know the weather is uncertain, the Autumn advancing,—still I will not be so far wanting to ourselves as not just to say—would you still give us that great and good evening that was to have been ours, we should be happy to your kind heart’s content, I really believe—and moreover believe that you will give it us if you can. So my say is said.

I hope you received the new edition of my wife’s Poems [1] which I directed the Publisher to send you. “I” means always “we” in a letter of mine, my wife’s most affectionate regards accompanying, in this instance, those of

Yours ever gratefully

Robert Browning.

Our stay here, I ought to mention, can hardly exceed a fortnight.

Publication: LRB, p. 45.

Manuscript: University of Iowa.

1. In letter 3841 (20 August), RB wrote that Poems (1856) was “not to appear in London for six weeks.” He evidently assumed the book would be published at the end of that period, but publication was delayed until 1 November 1856.

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