Correspondence

5530.  RB to Caroline Reinagle

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 207.

19. Warwick Crescent,

Upper Westbourne Terrace. W.

Jan: 19. ’65.

Dear Mrs Reinagle, [1]

Your note to Mr Chapman has just been sent to me, and fortunately gives me an opportunity of saying, however tardily, how much I was gratified by your music to my words. I received it on my return to London late in Autumn, and foolishly delayed thanking you: let me do so now at least.

For the new honours you wish to bestow on me, [2] —I must take them, and leave you to the consequences of your generosity. Once for all, you are more than welcome to make use of whatever in my works may be so lucky as to suit you: I will add,—in other and better works than my own, of which I may dispose.

There were more pieces than one included in your present; truest thanks for these also from

Yours very faithfully

Robert Browning.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Berg Collection.

1. Caroline Reinagle (née Orger, 1817–92); see letter 5403, note 1.

2. In 1868 Mrs. Reinagle published Three Songs, Composed to Poetry by Robert Browning, which included “In a Year,” “I would that you were all to me” (“Two in the Compagna,” stanzas 8 and 9), and “This is a spray the bird clung to” (“Misconceptions”). All three poems were published in Men and Women (1855).

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