5862. Benjamin Jowett to RB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 164.

[Oxford]

Feb. 14. [1867] [1]

Dear Mr Browning

The matter of the poetry Professorship has come to an end by the Council declining to propose the Degree. This they do partly because the majority of them are interested in another candidate [2] & partly because they think (in which I don’t agree with them) that the granting of a degree in order to qualify a new candidate would not be fair– I am very sorry for our sakes, for every one sees that it would have been a great honour to the University to have had you. I am glad, however, that you allowed the young men (for the movement originated with them) to make the attempt.

I shall hope to have the pleasure of seeing your Son to spend a week at Oxford on Monday March 25. I shall be a good deal at work myself & therefore I dare say that he will not object to doing some work also. With very kind regards to him I remain

Ever your’s truly

B Jowett

Address: Robert Browning Esqre / Warwick Crescent / Harrow Road / London.

Publication: BBIS-8, pp. 24–25.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Year provided by postmark.

2. Francis Doyle (see letter 5852, note 1).

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