4978. RB to Anne Mary Dicey
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 246.
1. Chichester Road,
Upper Westbourne Terrace.
Oct. 19. ’61.
Dear Mrs Dicey, [1]
“Dine” with you, good & kind as the invitation is, I fear I shall hardly be able to do yet. Let me call some morning as before & take my chance. I have just come from an interview with Mr Pearson, [2] whose advice & assistance will be of all the value you could wish—but I prefer talking it over with you, if I may–
Tell Edward for me how heartily glad I am to feel his neighbourhood even at this distance: [3] certainly I will see him soon, unless very unlucky.
Pen is doing very well, in the best health & spirits, while I am troubled & troubling others about him: could one but “let well alone”!
With all regards to all your family,
Yours very faithfully
Robert Browning.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Anne Mary Dicey (née Stephen, 1786–1878), aunt of Leslie Stephen and mother of Edward Dicey (1832–1911), mentioned below (see letter 4616, note 17).
2. Charles Henry Pearson (1830–94), journalist and educationist, was professor of modern history at King’s College, London, from 1855 to 1865. Apparently at Mrs. Dicey’s suggestion, Pearson was consulted by RB about Pen’s education (Charles Henry Pearson, Fellow of Oriel and Education Minister in Victoria: Memorials by Himself, His Wife, and His Friends, ed. William Stebbing, 1900, p. 171).
3. The Diceys’ London address is listed in the Brownings’ address book of this period (AB-4) as “2 Princes Terrace, Hyde Park, South West.”
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