4160. EBB to Maria Stuart

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 88–89.

Casa Guidi

Wednesday [7 April 1858] [1]

Dear Mrs Stuart,

We are very much obliged to you for the tickets, [2] from which we expect so much pleasure, & have given the three scudi [3] (our little debt) to your dear boy– How he improves, & what a fine boy he is–

Affectionately yours

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Dated by EBB’s reference to “the tickets” and “the three scudi,” for one of James Montgomery Stuart’s lectures, which were delivered on Wednesdays and Fridays (see letter 4161). On 5 April 1858, a Monday, RB entered a payment of three francesconi (scudi) in his account book of this period for “Stuart’s Lectures” (see Appendix IV).

2. Stuart was delivering a series of eight lectures “on the influence of Italian poetical literature on English poetry” at a cost of 15 pauls for all eight or 3 pauls for a single lecture. The lectures were given on “wednesday & friday, at one oclock” (see letters 4159 and 4161).

3. Or 30 pauls (about 13 shillings, six pence), the price of the complete series for two persons.

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