5056. Thomas Woolner to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 70.
29 Welbeck Street W [1]
April 23 ’62
My dear Mr Browning
Pray do not consider me troublesome—but as the 1st of May is so near and the Art Cat: of the I.N. Ex: [2] must be printed before then, I am most anxious to get the Stanza for my Group [3] in time for the first Edition—do you think that you could let me have it within 2 or 3 days?
Of course if nothing has come into your mind and you are very busy do not bother yourself—but it would be of great value to me if you had thought of something–
In haste—
Most truly yours
Thos: Woolner.
A.T. [4] is coming up in a few days I believe. He stays with me and I will let you know.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Princeton University.
1. Woolner has crossed out an embossed return address of “27, Rutland Street, Hampstead Road N.W.” He told Emily Tennyson in a letter of 5 October 1861 that he had bought a house in Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square, for £1200 and hoped to relocate there “in about 2 months” (see Amy Woolner, Thomas Woolner, R.A., Sculptor and Poet, 1917, p. 205).
2. The International Exhibition of 1862.
3. Woolner’s marble sculpture, called “Brother and Sister” in the Exhibition’s Official Catalogue of the Fine Art Department (1862), p. 151, was afterward better known as “Constance and Arthur” (the names are engraved on the pedestal), the two deaf children born to Sir Thomas Fairbairn (1823–91), Manchester industrialist and art collector who commissioned the work, and his wife, Allison (née Callaway, 1827–1907). RB’s stanza, later entitled “Deaf and Dumb” is written on an integral page of letter 5057. It did not appear in the catalogue.
4. Alfred Tennyson.
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