5561. Matilda Mary Hays to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 228–229.
Priory. Malvern
Feb 28th 1865.
My dear Mr Browning
Some good friends are making interest to get me a Pension from the Government Literary Fund—not on account of my literary merits alone or at all—but for my labours in behalf of improving the condition of my own sex, or at least that portion of it, obliged to be bread-winners—& because my own health has entirely failed in a long & painful struggle to support myself & an aged father. [1]
These good friends have succeeded in securing the interest of several persons nearly related to Lord Palmerston—a Memorial is already filed—& I am told that I must now get as many signatures of literary persons & M.Ps. to support this Memorial as possible. Mr Smiles, [2] the author of Self-Help &c, an old & good friend of mine, has drawn up this second Memorial & I am now endeavoring to get it adequately signed. May I hope that you will favor me with a name as well known, & carrying so much weight as that you & England’s greatest poetess bear—whom to have known even slightly is a proud privelege & a most happy remembrance.
If you will kindly favor me with a line at your earliest convenience, I shall be greatly obliged, as there is no time to lose & the Memorial is now in London for signature. Believe me, dear Mr Browning,
Yours very truly
Matilda M. Hays [3]
Address: Robert Browning Esqre / [Continued in unidentified hand] 19. Warwick Crescent / Upper Westbourne Terrace / W.
Publication: BBIS-8, pp. 30–31.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. John Hays (1768–1862), of London.
2. Samuel Smiles (1812–1904), Scottish biographer, though best known for Self-Help (1859).
3. Matilda Mary Hays (1820–97); see letter 3139, note 5.
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