4004. RB to Edward Chapman
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 24, 72–73.
Florence.
May 27. ’57.
My dear Chapman,
I am going to draw on you this morning, for the balance of our account—£44.5.10,—at 30 days’ date—so look out. Do, by way of payment of interest for the six months’ use of that remarkable sum, tell us how things go on—when the new edition will be wanted, [1] —how the three volumes sell, [2] —and as much more news as you can put in the letter for nothing.
Will you have the goodness to send us the “Athenæum” regularly, charging us duly with all expenses: I see it at the Reading Room, but my wife does not, and we want something of the kind.
Also, have the goodness to send a copy of “Aurora Leigh” to
Miss Graham Clarke, [3]
care of Miss Barrett,
50 Wimpole St
I am going to apprise Mr Allingham that he will find a copy on application– [4] Will you give it, if he calls?
Yours ever sincerely,
Robert Browning.
We got the packet of Books &c from Leghorn. [5] —Also National, Dublin, & Monthly Review: [6] Should there present itself an opportunity, don’t omit to send us Procter’s Book. [7]
Publication: NL, pp. 101–102.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. i.e., the third edition of Aurora Leigh; see letter 3976, note 15.
2. The fourth edition of EBB’s Poems, published in three volumes on 1 November 1856. A fifth edition was not required until 1862.
3. This presentation copy of the second edition of Aurora Leigh, signed by the recipient, EBB’s aunt Bummy, is now with Meredith.
4. We have not traced a presentation copy of either the second or third edition of Aurora Leigh to William Allingham. A copy of the fourth edition, inscribed on a slip of paper (pasted to the verso of the dedication-leaf) by EBB to Allingham and dated “Paris, 9 October 1858,” was offered for sale by Maggs (Catalogue 937, Autumn 1971, item 189). Present whereabouts of this presentation copy is unknown.
5. The books RB ordered from Chapman at the end of letter 3953.
6. The Monthly Review of Literature, Science, and Art, first published in January 1856 but lasting just nineteen numbers, reviewed Aurora Leigh in the issue of December 1856 (pp. 743–754). For the full text of this review, see vol. 23, pp. 307–312). The “National” probably refers to The National Review for April 1857 (pp. 239–267), which carried a notice of Aurora Leigh and Poems (1856), rather than The National Magazine, EBB having previously received a copy of the latter from her brother George (see the fourth paragraph in letter 3969). The Dublin University Magazine reviewed Aurora Leigh in the April 1857 issue (pp. 460–470). For the full text of these reviews, see Appendix III. All three of the journals mentioned by RB were sold in Browning Collections as part of lot 931. Tearsheets of the reviews themselves are now at ABL.
7. Dramatic Scenes, with Other Poems (1857), published under his pseudonym “Barry Cornwall,” and illustrated by John Tenniel, among others, sold as part of lot 1022 in Browning Collections (see Reconstruction, A1898).
___________________
