4219. RB to Frederick Locker

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 185–186.

Hâvre,

July 26. ’58.

My dear Locker,

I shall tell you the exact truth in saying that I have been very much pleased (& a little surprised) by your poems: [1] if you succeed so well when professing to attempt comparatively little—I should certainly advise you to try & do something higher: if you then hit as exactly what you aim at, the effort will have rewarded itself indeed.

We earnestly hope that dear Lady Elgin continues in the favorable state we had the real delight of witnessing: the least word of news will be a great favour—as you know, I am sure.

With kindest regards to Lady Charlotte and Lady Augusta, and renewed congratulations to yourself, pray believe me

Yours very truly

Robert Browning.

Publication: Augustine Birrell, Frederick Locker-Lampson, a Character Sketch (London, 1920), p. 101.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. London Lyrics by Frederick Locker (1821–95), with an illustration by George Cruikshank, was published by Chapman and Hall in December 1857. A review in The Athenæum of 2 January 1858 said of Locker: “He writes with a middle-aged, experienced air, that is quite refreshing” (no. 1575, p. 16).

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