5094. RB to Emelyn Story
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 102–103.
19. Warwick Crescent, Harrow Rd
July 3. ’62.
Dear Mrs Story,
I received a note from Rossetti this morning telling me that his sister was so unwell as to be unable to go out on Saturday [1] —& that the meeting of us all was put off accordingly: you will have heard as much by this time, no doubt. I forgot all about it & stupidly engaged myself for Saturday—not to Ly Goldsmid’s, [2] however,—as you seem to expect. I see nothing of you—but it can’t be helped. Has William got my letter appointing an interview with Chapman for Friday at 1. oclock? [3] I only saw the Managing-Man, but liked his alacrity & evident goodwill in the matter: if Friday won’t suit, he must write himself & fix another time.
Ever yours affly
R Browning.
I observe some mistake in your address as given in this note—15. & you told me 17. & to 17 I directed the letter yesterday[.]
Publication: BAF, pp. 108–109.
Manuscript: University of Texas.
1. The 5th. Rossetti also notified other invitees: Mrs. Story (see SD2590), Ford Madox Brown (see SD2591), and George Price Boyce (see SD2592).
2. Louisa Sophia Goldsmid (née Goldsmid, 1819–1908), advocate for women’s rights and education, only daughter of Moses Asher Goldsmid (1789–1864) and his first wife, Eliza (née Salomons, 1800–37). She married in 1839 her first cousin Francis Henry Goldsmid (1808–78), 2nd Baronet, M.P. for Reading. Sir Francis is listed in the Brownings’ address book of this period (AB-4) at St. John’s Lodge, Inner Circle, Regent’s Park.
3. This letter has not surfaced. Doubtless, the appointment concerned the publication of W.W. Story’s Roba di Roma (2 vols., 1863).
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