5360. RB to Robert Barrett Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 38.
[London]
April 22. ’64
My dearest Pen,
I shall only be able to write a word or two for I have just come in from meeting Garibaldi (at last) at the American Consul’s: [1] I was very glad to shake his hand and say a few words to him in Italian: he leaves London to-day—not England yet.
I am very happy that you are enjoying yourself and that your cough is so much better: I care more about that than the Hand. I had a kind note from Surtees yesterday saying how glad he was at the prospect of seeing you, and asking you to go there some Friday and stay till Monday—because Altham passes Saturdays and Sundays at home: so you can do that, and I will tell him so. Next Friday—till Monday or Tuesday, will end the complete fortnight nicely. I shall be anxious to know how you get on in riding a horse of the ordinary size. I must tell you that Mrs Story writes a very long letter—so that our missives have crossed each other. They are all very well, and full of enquiries about you—they seem to have given up the notion of going to England, and will be at Leghorn. I had also some Italian newspapers from George, with accounts of Garibaldi’s reception, which has delighted the Italians. I saw Willy this morning: he says he had a letter from you which he will answer to-morrow, as the boys get a holiday on account of its being Shakespeare’s birthday. I dine with Dickens, Wilkie Collins, [2] and Forster at Greenwich. My best love and truest thanks to your Uncle and Aunt.
Yours most affectionately
Robt Browning.
Publication: LRB, pp. 79–80.
Manuscript: British Library.
1. Freeman Harlow Morse (1807–91), appointed by Abraham Lincoln, was U.S. Consul in London (1861–69). Garibaldi had been invited to a breakfast hosted by Morse at his Kensington Gate residence. “There were present to meet the general the United States Minister and Mrs. Adams, Mr. W.E. Forster, M.P. … &c. A select circle of friends joined the party after breakfast” (The Standard, 23 April 1864, p. 3).
2. Wilkie Collins (1824–89), novelist, is best known for The Woman in White (1860) and The Moonstone (1868).
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