5271. RB to Frederic Leighton
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 288.
Chez M. Laraison,
Ste Marie, près Pornic, Loire Inférieure
Aug. 30. ’63.
My dear Leighton,
Don’t fear—you will do everything like yourself in the end, I know: wait till the end of October, as you propose– I cannot return before the beginning of it—though I would do so, were it necessary—but it is not—for I have only this morning received the notification of which I told you that “the marble is in the Sculptor’s studio.” We shall therefore be in full time.
The portrait you saw was the ambrotype [1] which I lent to Mr Richmond, [2] and concerning which I wrote to him before leaving London—directing that it should be sent to you: his neglect is too bad, as he engaged to let you have it whenever you desired. I therefore enclose—(oh, fresh attack on your envelopes and postage-stamps!)—a note which I presume he will attend to <and which you will of course burn should he have sent the portrait meanwhile>. [3] I have also two others [4] nearly like that portrait, taken the same day with it, which I was unable to find—but which shall be found on my return.
Dear Leighton, I can only repeat, with entire truth, that you will satisfy me wholly– I don’t think however you can make me more than I am now.
Yours gratefully and lovingly
Robert Browning.
Publication: LRB, pp. 77–78 (as August 20).
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. The photograph of EBB, taken at Le Havre in the late summer of 1858 (see letter 4243, note 3). Doubtless, Leighton thought it could help him fashion an image of EBB for her monument (see letter 5265, note 1).
2. Thomas Richmond (1802–74); see letter 3872, note 5.
3. Passage in angle brackets is interpolated above the line.
4. One of these is reproduced as the frontispiece to vol. 25. The other is mentioned in letter 4324 by EBB as representing “a woman in despair.”
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