5601. RB to Henrietta Ward

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 260.

19. Warwick Crescent,

Upper Westbourne Terrace W.

May 24. ’65.

Dear Mrs Ward, [1]

I find that I can accept your invitation for the 1st of June,—and of course do so very gladly.

With best compliments to

Mr Ward, believe me

Yours most truly

Robert Browning.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Henrietta Mary Ada Ward (1832–1924), historical genre painter, was the only child of artists George Raphael Ward (1799–1878) and his wife, Mary (née Webb, 1799–1860). She married in 1848 Edward Matthew Ward (1816–79), R.A., historical genre painter. In the 1860’s they resided at Kent Villa, Landsdown Road, Kensington, with their children (five daughters and four sons, one of whom was Leslie Ward, the caricaturist “Spy”). The Wards, like RB, were friends of the Benzons. “Browning used to come to our house on Sundays. His manners, although perfectly courteous, suggested an aloofness which, however intelligible to us, was most disconcerting to our children … he was most attractive and decidedly good-looking” (Mrs. E. M. Ward’s Reminiscences, ed. Elliott O’Donnell, 1911, p. 201).

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