4246. RB to Edward Chapman
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 238–239.
Le Hâvre,
Sept. 19. ’58.
Dear Chapman,
We leave this place to-morrow for Paris– Rue Castiglione, 6. Will you have the kindness to forward the “Athenæum” to that address? We stay two or three weeks at most and then return to Italy.
I shall draw on you presently for your balance in hand—thro’ my Uncle in London, [1] I suppose.
Will you please put the enclosed note into the post and be so kind as to write the direction to Mr Law, Francis’ agent? I can’t get at his address. I’ll tell you moreover what it is about. I promised Francis a year ago a photograph of my wife—of which he means to make an engraving. You know, or don’t know, that there have been certain horrible libels on humanity published as portraits of her in America: and I shall not be sorry to extinguish them—as the Photograph taken yesterday may be expected to do. [2] It was executed by a clever man here, Warnod—and is so satisfactory that I keep it myself and only send a copy to Francis. How say you to an Engraving of it for the next “Aurora Leigh”? Might it not be of advantage? I would let you have the original, of course—and I know they transfer these Photographs capitally in England now. Somebody put that thing of Mr Wood’s in the “National Magazine,” I remember,—the medallion thing! If you see any good in this notion, write at once, please—otherwise I take the portrait with me.
I won’t think of other trouble for you at present. My wife’s kind regards—she is much the better for her stay here. I dare say you are at the sea-side, too: my little boy swims capitally.
Yours faithfully ever,
Robert Browning.
I had a kind & complimentary letter some time ago from the Secretary of a new Club that was to be, “the Hogarth,” [3] proposing to enrol me as an Hon. Mem. Is the club full-blown or nipt in the bud?
Publication: NL, pp. 110–111.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. Reuben Browning.
3. The Hogarth Club was formed in April 1858 in order to provide a venue for Pre-Raphaelite art and a meeting place for Pre-Raphaelite artists and their friends, supporters, and other associates. The primary movers behind the club were Ford Madox Brown and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Meetings and exhibitions were first held at 178 Piccadilly; later, at 6 Waterloo Place. The club was dissolved in December 1861 (see Deborah Cherry, “The Hogarth Club: 1858–1861,” The Burlington Magazine, 122, April 1980, 236–244). RB accepted the offer of honorary membership, as EBB indicates in letter 4295.
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