5185. RB to Robert Scott
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 209.
19. Warwick Crescent,
Upper Westbourne Terrace, W.
March 5. ’63.
My dear Sir,
I beg to thank you sincerely for your letter just received, and to say that, having taken this house and established myself in London for the purpose of superintending my Son’s education, I shall hope to be at hand whenever a desire of yours may be addressed to me. During the Autumns I go abroad for a couple of months,—but should circumstances induce a longer absence at any future period, I will, by your kind permission, at once apprise you, and make proper arrangements for the forwarding whatever message you please to send.
My son was born—and, till little more than a year ago, resided abroad: under all circumstances, it seems best that he should continue with me rather than go to school: I hope & believe I have decided rightly in a matter of some difficulty. He is provided with an excellent classical Tutor, [1] and will, I trust, be found duly qualified for matriculation in four years’ time. Your standard of scholarship is high, and the distinction to which your goodness has opened the way may fail us after all,—but I think I can promise you at the worst a conscientious, good-hearted and loyal student on whom pains will never be thrown away.
Pray believe me,
My dear Sir,
Very faithfully and obligedly yours,
Robert Browning.
The Revd Dr Scott, D.D.
Master of Balliol College.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Pusey House.
1. George Knox Gillespie (see letter 5013, note 7).
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