5189. John Skelton to RB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 214–215.

20 Alva Street

Edinburgh

16 March 1863.

Dear Sir–

May I ask you to accept the copy of Fraser’s Magazine which accompanies this, & in which I have attempted—in a weak way—to express something of the admiration I have always felt for your poetry? [1] I would have sent it you before—but I was not aware that you were in this country—& I cannot even yet deny myself the pleasure of saying to you personally that the article only inadequately expresses the deep & genuine feeling with which I have read yr. works.

Yrs most truly,

John Skelton

Address: Robert Browning Esq. / care of / Mesrs Chapman & Hall / 193 Piccadilly / London. W.

Publication: BBIS-8, p. 30.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. A general review essay of RB’s works by John Skelton (1831–97), writing under his pseudonym “Shirley,” appeared in Fraser’s Magazine for February 1863, pp. 240–256. Skelton’s first sentence reads: “It is about time that we began to do justice to Robert Browning.” For the full text of this review, see pp. 376–385.

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