5197. RB to William Cornwallis Cartwright

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 221.

19. Warwick Crescent,

Upper Westbourne Terrace.

Good Friday. [3 April 1863] [1]

My dear Cartwright,

I brought the books [2] with me, but did not find you! Here you will, I hope, find me this next four months, & you know what, in the way of welcome, besides. Will you have the books? Or wait till you come for them?

All love to you all from

Yours ever affly

R Browning.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Northamptonshire Record Office.

1. The year (and consequently the day and the month) is based on the stationery’s 1863 watermark and RB’s mention of “four months,” a phrase he uses similarly in letter 5191.

2. Probably RB’s Selections (1863) and EBB’s The Greek Christian Poets and the English Poets (1863). A presentation copy of the latter, in a private collection, is inscribed by RB on the title page: “William C. Cartwright from RB. Apr. 25. ’63.”

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