5869. RB to Lady Augusta Stanley
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 174–175.
19. Warwick Crescent,
Upper Westbourne Terrace W.
Feb: 25. ’67.
Dear Lady Augusta,
It occurs to me that you would like to know, & may be ignorant, that the unfortunate business about the book is at an end. I enclose a letter from Mr Forster, [1] —which tells me so, and which I have just received,—because it evidences proper feeling for Mr Locker’s unluckiness and damage. In justice to Mr Forster I may add that Payne’s usage was outrageous,—to the extent of replying to that overture which he has after all been compelled to accept, by “wishing that the lawyer, and his ruffianly client, might get a farthing of what they wanted.” One could hardly wonder therefore at resentment in the case, however one might be sorry for it.
My sister was most sorry to miss the delight of seeing you, the other morning. She means to try the adventure of calling in the course of the week.
With all respect & regard to the Dean, pray believe me,
Yours ever sincerely
Robert Browning:
Be so kind as to throw the letter into the fire, [2] —nor be at the trouble of answering this.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
2. Instead of burning the letter, Lady Augusta used its remaining space (two pages) to write the following note, presumably to her sister Lady Charlotte Locker: “I think I may send you this & the enclosed to burn– On Friday mg Mr. Browning came I having sheepishly put off all but him– He entered into the full matter & shewed us the tremendous provocation F. had & how owing to the unutterable unluckiness of the thing—he could hardly avoid thinking that it was a trick of Payne’s making Fred: apply to Ch. & Hall instead of to him from whom he knew he could obtain nothing. I had made him fly out at first—& take the line he did instead of the more dignified line of ignoring Payne—& once engaged in it they got mutually inflamed– Payne had of his own hook left out the dedication of Proctor’s Book because he would not have Mr. Forster’s name appear on a page provided by him!!!!!!!– Then to find him as he thought circumventing him to put a sort of bone to steal his property was rather irritating– You see that he is anxious Fred shd. not be cheated by P. but of course Arthur will have done what he could & probably compromised the matter– There is nothing to be done on it & no use in attacking Forster,—it is one of those coincidences of ill luck against which there was no providing & there is no contending– B. says F is very rough but kind hearted.”
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