5788. RB to Eliza Fox Bridell
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 109–110.
19 Warwick Crescent,
Upper Westbourne Terrace, W,
July 21. ’66.
My dear Tottie, [1]
It is very kind of you to care about seeing me,—I am sure I should very much like seeing you. If I can, I will call on you next Sunday,—but I perhaps cannot,—I am just going out of Town, and, on Sundays, have to keep in a particular track, where one or two friends [2] profess the habit of expecting me,—therefore, never mind the lunch (which I never take) but let me try to call about the time you mention, and if the trial is to no purpose, forgive & understand me.
Indeed, I want to see and ask you a favour,—promised me by your Father two or three years ago: he had, or once had,—so he thought, a few utterly insignificant scraps of letters and verse written by me when a boy: if you find them,—do—for old love’s sake,—give them to me again! I used to write to Miss Flower [3] when I was twelve or thirteen years old,—she had the vice of keeping every such contemptible thing (as she told me)—and, in consequence, whatever she thought to keep, Mr Adams or some congenial spirit now inherits,—I applied for my belongings, I seem to remember, and got no answer: but if there be anything you can lay hands on, it will come to me, I know. [4]
Ever affectionately yours
Robt Browning–
Address: Mrs Bridell, / 8 Victoria Road, / Kensington. / W.
Publication: NL, pp. 176–177.
Manuscript: Huntington Library.
1. Eliza Florance Fox Bridell (1823–1904), daughter of William Johnson Fox (1786–1864); see letter 3293, note 6.
2. John Forster and Bryan Waller Procter
3. Eliza Flower (1803–46).
4. RB assumes that after Eliza’s death, the “insignificant scraps of letters and verse” were left with her sister, Sarah Fuller Adams (née Flower, 1805–48), and then to the latter’s husband, William Bridges Adams (1797–1872). Apparently, some of these papers were returned to RB as a result of this note. The letters were primarily those he had written to Eliza, as a boy of “twelve or thirteen” (see letter 2755). RB was particularly anxious about a copy made by Eliza of his “Incondita,” “a batch of performances of all sorts and sizes” (see letter 579), which, according to R. and E. Garnett, he obtained in 1866 (see letter 2755, note 9).
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