5660. RB to Frederick Wedmore
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 21.
19. Warwick Crescent,
Upper Westbourne Terrace W
Nov 13. ’65.
My dear Mr Wedmore,
Do forgive—I intreat of your good-nature,—this delay of mine in replying to your note: indeed I was in hopes of being able to say something really to the purpose—but find one Man is abroad, another engaged for the present: I shall wrong myself in your eyes unless I write at once. Whenever Mr Ella returns from Italy,—I believe that at my request he will lay open to you every source of information possible [1] —give you access to his Musical Library, which should be a good one: or another person, if I can manage to reach him, will do all you want: there may be fuller notices than those which I mentioned; if so, these gentlemen profess to know them. At the same time, the books in question are undoubtedly to be found at the British Museum, and there you may consult them at any time.
Had I but time myself! The want of it, however, seldom makes itself so unpleasantly felt as it did that Saturday when some business, which promised to last half the time that it proved to require, caused me to miss your visit: I reached home just after your departure. I wonder whether you will indulge me so far as—when next you come to Town—after having apprised me, to dine here in my quietest of ways? So shall I recover what I much regret to have lost; or even be the gainer.
The “Poem”, you ask about, is a very long affair which I have been at work on for some time, [2] —but as for “publishing” it,—that will not be done so readily: next year, perhaps.
Very truly yours
Robert Browning.
Publication: NL, pp. 168–169.
Manuscript: Huntington Library.
1. Concerning Abbé Vogler (see letter 5642).
2. The Ring and the Book (4 vols., 1868–69).
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