Correspondence

3914.  RB to Frederick Oldfield Ward

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 117.

39. Devonshire Place

Oct. 22. ’56.

My dear Ward,

It was a characteristically kind thing of you to send the other day for our news—except that you made me believe thereby that you had returned and drew me to Cork St at once: there I found how it was. So we go away without seeing you! To Italy,—by Paris and Marseilles. Very likely we pass the year,—the winter, that is, at Florence. Next summer we hope to return—be your old self then, and don’t try at alterations! My wife’s kind regards go with her best thanks for the Printed Narrative we return. [1] I have to thank you also for Belgian notices, [2] and what not?

Will you remember us most kindly to Mr & Mrs Cowper:—the remembering them is very pleasant to us.

Good bye, dear Ward—I shall see nobody as good till I come back.

Faithfully yours

Robert Browning.

Publication: None traced.

Source: Transcript in editors’ file.

1. Perhaps, a transcript or proofsheets of a speech on sanitation that Ward delivered on 15 September 1856 in Brussels. The speech was published as Discours prononcé par F.-O. Ward … à la séance d’ouverture du Congrès International de Bienfaisance (Brussels, 1857).

2. Possibly, notices of Ward’s speech.

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