4213. RB to Edward Chapman
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 171–172.
Paris,
July 13. ’58.
My dear Chapman,
Here are we arrived—for further progress to some French Bathing-place, as enjoined by the doctor. [1] My wife was very poorly & there was no such evident remedy as this,—so we did as we were bid. We don’t go to England (obeying the same medecine-man) but return as soon as sufficiently salted—I suppose at the end of September.
So you won’t see me: now, pray lighten my share of that affliction by sending in our account at once: (spoken insinuatingly) not that I mean to help myself to the money immediately, but that I want uncommonly to know what is what and how is how about all our books; and if you want any fresh doing-up of Aurora Leigh—now is your time—when we are & shall be, within a day’s reach. Do kindly send me this directly if you can,—and in process of time who knows but we shall (voice dies off mysteriously: Mr Chapman communicates to Mr Frederick [2] earnestly: Mr Frederick turns over ledger energetically: and scene closes with the warm applause, not to say “encore” of)
Yours faithfully ever
Robert Browning.
Direct, 151. Rue de Grenelle, Faubourg St Honoré. [3]
Please send by post, Rarey’s Horse-taming Book pubd by Routledge. [4]
Publication: NL, p. 107.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. James Harding.
2. i.e., Frederic Chapman (1823–95); see letter 3715, note 10.
3. Sic, for Faubourg St. Germain.
4. John Solomon Rarey (1827–66), an American horse trainer, published The Modern Art of Taming Wild Horses, in 1858. A copy of this work, signed by RB, sold as lot 1031 in Browning Collections (see Reconstruction, A1927). It first appeared as a privately printed pamphlet in Columbus, Ohio, in 1856. Routledge’s publication was pirated (see Rarey’s letter to The Times, 9 July 1858, p. 12). Rarey had been much in the news recently for taming a spirited horse named “Cruiser.” See, for example, The Morning Post of 16 April 1858 (p. 5) and The Daily News of 25 May 1858 (p. 3).
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