Correspondence

5748.  RB to Frederick Locker

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 80.

19 Warwick Crescent,

Upper Westbourne Terrace, W.

May 2. ’66.

My dear Locker, [1]

I have had a hunt, and find, for result of it, that I never possessed the “Last Leaves” [2] or “Dry Sticks”, [3] —which were published while Landor was in England & I in Italy: I have his “Hellenics” [4] —but don’t think they are what you want: I should say Ld Houghton certainly can lend you a copy. Did not the Libels appear in that book, and was it not scarce from the time of the Trial? I supposed I must possess the thing among my many samples of his publications in various stages & conditions: I am very sorry to disappoint you.

Ever yours truly,

Robert Browning.

Address: Frederick Locker Esq / 13 Victoria Street, / Pimlico.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Frederick Locker (1821–95); see letter 3041, note 6.

2. RB has in mind Landor’s The Last Fruit Off an Old Tree (1853).

3. Dry Sticks, Fagoted (Edinburgh, 1858) contains the “Libels” mentioned by RB below (see letter 4214, note 4).

4. The Hellenics (new ed., enlarged, 1859). Two copies sold in Browning Collections as lots 849 and 850 (see Reconstruction, A1395 and A1396).

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