4993. RB to William Makepeace Thackeray

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 263.

1. Chichester Road,

Upper Westbourne Terrace

Nov. 28. ’61.

Dear Thackeray,

Is there any objection to my reprinting the Three Poems printed in the “Cornhill”? [1]

I wrote to you, about something else from France some two months ago: you either missed my letter or I lost your reply.

Every yours truly

Robert Browning.

Publication: RB-GS, p. 325.

Manuscript: Eton College Library.

1. The Cornhill Magazine published three poems by EBB: “A Musical Instrument” (July 1860, pp. 84–85); “A Forced Recruit at Solferino” (October 1860, pp. 419–420); and “Little Mattie” (June 1861, pp. 736–737). Appended to this letter is a note from Thackeray to George Murray Smith that reads: “My dear S. I suppose you cant say no[.] I have written to Browning to say you will write to him.” Evidently, there was no “objection”; all three poems appeared in Last Poems (1862).

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