Correspondence

5490.  RB to Robert Eyres Landor

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 178.

London, 19. Warwick Crescent,

Upper Westbourne Terrace,

Nov. 28. ’64

My dear Sir,

I shall not attempt to reply, as perhaps I could; you know too well with whom the generosity had rise which I have been simply privileged to assist in its course: and I am now further privileged in being able to give you the comfort of knowing that none of that generosity failed of its proper effect, and that for five years so much was contributed to the quiet and satisfaction of a man who, in spite of strange mistakings, and unfortunate hastinesses of judgment and temper, was gifted with more extraordinary endowments, as well of heart as of head, than ever met in a man before,—so far as my experience goes. The weakness is already past and forgotten, but that royalty of intellect will be increasingly perceived by the world.

The amount of the charges, on the Pictures, defrayed by me in Florence as well as London two years ago, I find to be £5.19.4—as specified in the enclosed Bill and Memorandum: I have just discharged the Packer’s Bill, returned by you,—and the sum which you desire to pay will accordingly be

5.19.4

18.6

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6.17.10.

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Pray remember me, my dear Sir, as

Yours faithfully & obligedly ever,

Robert Browning.

I need not add that the Bill may be destroyed forthwith, though I cannot help troubling you with it for regularity’s sake.

Address: The / Rev. Robert E. Landor, / Birlingham Rectory / Pershore.

Publication: NL, p. 163.

Manuscript: Yale University.

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