5286. RB to William Graham Sandford
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 302.
19. Warwick Crescent,
Upper Westbourne Terrace.
Oct. 20. ’63.
My dear Sir, [1]
My absence from London must be my excuse to your kindness for the delay in answering your letter. I have no communication with the “Athenæum”– Mr Landor’s own name will sufficiently commend his verses to the Editor. I confess I should see them inserted with repugnance—for all his more recent compositions, wonderful display, at Mr Landor’s age, are detrimental to his reputation: for they contain nothing newer nor better expressed than the admirable works whose completeness they disturb: since in literature mere multiplication of efforts does worse than no good.
Another friend has just called on me, on precisely the same errand—asking how to dispose of various poems & dialogues which he is requested to print. Of course any remark on this to Mr Landor would do infinite harm. I think he forgets such applications as soon as made, and is not at all vexed by silence from the recipients: composing and transcribing occupy him beneficially, and the business, once at end, is dismissed from his mind.
My last letters gave a very satisfactory account of Mr Landor’s health & spirits, I am glad to say.
Truest thanks to you, dear Mr Sanford, for your kind remembrance of me. I have freshly in mind our pleasant meeting in Rome.
Ever yours faithfully,
Robert Browning.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: R.H. Taylor Collection.
1. William Graham Sandford (1834–84); see letter 4329, note 2.
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