5570. RB to William Surtees Altham

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 239.

19 Warwick Cresct.

Upper Westbourne Terrace, W.

March 21. ’65.

My dear Surtees,

How can I thank you enough for this dear piece of kindness of yours—this thing of all others which I am best pleased to have? [1] I shall say no more than that I am—with love to Mrs Altham—& you all,

Ever gratefully & affectionately yours

Robert Browning

Address: Major Altham, / Stoke Court, / near Taunton. / Somersetshire.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: In private collection.

1. Probably the Charles Hayter portrait of EBB as a child, walking onto the porch at Hope End, with her spaniel Havannah carrying her hat. The painting sold as lot 10 in Browning Collections (see Reconstruction, F2). It is reproduced in vol. 1, facing p. 40.

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