5875. RB to James Kenward
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 178–179.
19. Warwick Crescent,
Upper Westbourne Terrace, W.
March 11. ’67.
My dear Sir, [1]
I hardly venture to write at last, having deferred writing so long. All I can say is, that my occupations have been incessant, and, in justice to your friend, I wished to send the book you sent me. [2]
There can be no doubt that your “Ab Ithel” [3] was just one of those men of letters whom the country should—not so much reward, as, in some measure, remunerate for their self-denying zeal. Purely disinterested scholarship always seemed to me to have far more important bearings, moral and intellectual, than are commonly recognized. I do hope that what was never done for the scholar, in this case, will be made up to his family, who otherwise lose too much by his erudition.
If ever you find yourself in my neighbourhood again,—do give me the chance of effacing that impression you must have carried away, and which this postponement of an answer to your letter cannot but have confirmed. I think I can easily explain the hurry and bustle in which you found me—but which will soon pass, I think: Meantime, take me on trust as
Yours very faithfully
Robert Browning.
I return by the Book Post the volume of the Cambrian Journal. [4]
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: R.H. Taylor Collection.
1. James Kenward (pseud. Elfynydd, 1838–1906), poet and writer. In 1871 he published Ab Ithel: an Account of the Life and Writings of the Rev. John Williams Ab Ithel.
2. See RB’s concluding sentence.
3. John Williams (pseud. Ab Ithel, 1811–62), Welsh antiquary and clergyman.
4. In Ab Ithel, Kenward included the following note: “The greater portion of this work (to page 192) was originally published in the form of editorial articles in the Cambrian Journal, of 1862–3–4 …” (p. [vii]).
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