4674. John Forster to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 28, 15.
46, Montagu Square, W
22d May 1860
My dear Browning
Though I do not hear of you, and suppose the bearer of this will not find you in Florence, I must yet charge him to leave it, with the Volume it accompanies, [1] to meet you at Casa Guidi whenever you may return[.]
By the Announcements at the close of the Volume you will see that new editions are preparing (half thro’ the press indeed) of my Essays, in Volumes complete by themselves. For this reason, and most especially because I have greatly improved the “Grand Remonstrance” and no longer wish you to have it in its old form [2] —I do not send you the Essays now, but will, as soon as the new edition appears, take care that you have them.
It is a great grief to me not to be able, consistently with any kind of self respect, to communicate further with Landor until I shall hear from you in respect to what I said in my letter–
I wrote to you at Rome some weeks ago—and to dear Mrs Browning [3] —to whom, from my wife & myself, I here repeat all earnest messages of affection.
My dear Browning we think of you both very much and I am ever with all the old regard Your loving friend
John Forster
Address: Robert Browning Eqr / Casa Guidi / Florence.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
1. On the envelope, Forster has written: “With a copy of ‘Arrest of 5 Members’” (see letter 4609, note 4).
2. “The Debates on the Grand Remonstrance,” first published in volume one of Historical and Biographical Essays (2 vols., 1858). For the new edition, see letter 4609, note 3.
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