Correspondence

3936.  EBB to Elizabeth Clementine Kinney

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 156.

Casa Guidi.

Friday evening. [12 December 1856] [1]

Your generous sympathy, my dear Mrs Kinney, would have made me glad yesterday if I had not been so very, very sad with some news of the day before, telling us of the loss of the loved friend to whom that book is dedicated. So sad I was, that I could not lift up my head to write & express to you how gratefully I felt the recognition in your letter. You are most generous .. overflowingly generous– If I said I wished to deserve it better, it would be like wishing you less generous, .. so I wont. I will only thank you from my heart—that shall be all I shall say.

Affectionately yours always

Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Address: À Madame / Madame Kinney / Casa del Bello / Via della Fornace.

Publication: Bosco, p. 108 (as [7 December 1856]).

Manuscript: Aldrich Collection, Iowa State Historical Department.

1. Dated from EBB’s reference to Kenyon’s death, news of which reached the Brownings on 10 December 1856 (see the 14 December section of letter 3935).

___________________