4800. John Forster to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 28, 258–260.
46 Montagu Square W.
28th December 1860
First, my dear Browning, let me wish to dear Mrs Browning and yourself and Penini all the heartiest wishes of the good old season– No end of Merry Xmasses and happy New Years! Devouter wish was never breathed than that—or one in which more earnest hopes for the future blend with happier recollections of the past.– My wife too desires to be permitted to send to Mrs Browning and yourself her affecte participation in this message of mine.
We did not return from the country till some week or two after your last letter came—but I should have written earlier only for doubts of your whereabouts and your intimation of a probability of your writing again. I had but an unsuccessful summer (or autumn) trip myself: was ill the whole two months; happily however I have rallied quite, and am now better than I have been for a considerable time. I sympathize deeply with Mrs. Browning’s sorrow—and shall be anxious till I hear that all is well with her. How I wish it might occur to you, some fine spring or summer morning, that perhaps a visit to London might be worth the trial. How hard we should try to interest her—and we might be able to do more, and more successfully, than you think for [her]! Now don’t disregard this suggestion of mine– We have bitter cold weather at present, but all the better promise of a genial spring.
Don’t forget to tell me when you write how it fares with what you announced to me the beginning of—how many months ago. [1] Wished you both with us—at Xmas—for our country companions. Well—the field is very clear to you at present. There is little to preoccupy it, and nothing to interfere with you. I wish there were more! Not that I love my friends less—but——
I have been writing a little, and have two volumes here made up to send to you, [2] and only wanting the way. I wish you could tell me some safe and expeditious mode. But there is only, to all enquiry I make, the chance held out of some one going Italyward who might be disposed to take them. A poor chance that—and you will kindly give me a better, if you can.
Remembering where we first met—now, how many years ago! [3] and at this season!—I ought to tell you, what I have mentioned to no human being else (leaving such as have any interest in it to find it out for themselves)—that estrangement has come between Macready & myself. Though no one can more fully admit than I do each man’s right to judge & act in his own affairs—there were some reasons that prevented me from entirely sympathizing with the late marriage. [4] Heartily did I wish him, however, all possible happiness—and had resolved in no respect to abate our affecte & friendly intercourse. But, in consequence of some excited declaration against the marriage by his son William (you remember Willy—now in Ceylon!), [5] I was obliged to reply to an appeal with certain intimations from myself that I found it really not possible to suppress. I never wrote a more affectionate letter—or one more designed to express what was consonant with all our old friendship—than that to which I refer: but he so replyed to it that I have never since written to him. And so, Silence has dropped between us—maintained now for several months, and not likely to be perhaps ever broken again. You will understand, my dear Browning, why I say this to you, not wishing any comment from you on a matter so painful, and admitting of no remedy: and whispering thus briefly of what I might greatly have enlarged upon—with no increase of pleasure to either of us. Let it pass, thus. You will not need further to know why I tell you nothing of Macready when I write.
We passed our Xmas Day and a few days before with Dickens at Gadshill in Kent—where he has now settled himself very comfortably in country gentleman fashion. We were seasonably mirthful—and spoke warmly of you among the friends that were freshly remembered.
I have come near the end of my letter in silence as to the subject of your last to me. What was written by that misguided & ungovernable old man is simply & wholly false. It would be nothing, however, even if true[.] It is hard that he should be permitted to make such statements, and commit such insane injustice– Yet be treated aftewds as in his senses. His niece tells me (apropos of the stanzas which he has doubtless sufficiently troubled her with) that he is supposed to be about to publish soon a libellous attack on me—among others—in America. This would be a proper sequel to what your letter contained.
—God bless you & dear Mrs Browning—& ever believe me
Your ever excellent old friend, most affectionately
John Forster
PS. I propose to send again immediately, thro’ Coutt’s to Carlo Brini—the present quarter’s remittance. [6] I hope this is as you wish.
Address: Italy Affranchie / Robert Browning Esqr / Via Felice, 126 / Rome.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
1. Perhaps the “long poem” EBB had mentioned earlier to Fanny Haworth (see letter 4671, note 15). Forster alluded to it in letter 4650, where he wrote: “I wish you had told me the subject of your Poem.”
2. The Debates on the Grand Remonstrance and Oliver Cromwell, Daniel De Foe …, both published in November 1860 (see letter 4609, note 3).
3. At William Charles Macready’s house in Elstree on New Year’s Eve, 1835.
4. Macready married on 3 April 1860, Cecile Louise Frederica Spencer (1826–1908); see letter 4650, note 9.
5. William (“Willie”) Charles Macready, Jr. (1832–71), the second child and eldest son of Macready by his first wife, Catherine (née Atkins), served in the Ceylon Civil Service. In 1859 Willie married a Miss Rull (1821–64). We have been unable to trace further information about her.
6. Fifty pounds, as recorded by RB on 21 January 1861 (see vol. 26, p. 395).
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