5912. RB to Edward Twisleton
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 209–210.
19. Warwick Crescent,
Upper Westbourne Terrace, W.
June 12. ’67.
My dear Twisleton,
It is a delight to me to see your handwriting again. I knew you were recently returned, however,—having heard of you from Lady Belper last week.
I got leave, a month or two ago, of Dr Scott to let Robert matriculate, if matriculate he can, on going to reside next October,—thus saving six months. He is a good, truthful, manly young fellow, but does not yet—quite throw his heart into study as I could wish: I would not, if I could, give up any of his valuable qualities in exchange for that particular care about learning which I want him to acquire,—but I should dearly like to see this in addition to the others: he is still a boy in many respects.
What an enviable journey you have had! Yes,—thank you for remembering it, I did write that little thing off Algiers [1] in pencil on the cover of a book within eye-reach as I now write– Bartoli’s “Simboli” [2] which I had been reading & yawning over.
The long poem (so long!) is nearly done,—I hope to be relieved of it by the end of the autumn.
Both Robert & myself go to Oxford next Saturday on our annual visit to Jowett: we stay a couple of days. Do you go on Thursday to vote for the Professor of your choice, whoever he may be? [3]
When I return we must meet—at the Club [4] if not elsewhere: meantime & ever I am, Dear Twisleton,
Most truly yours
Robert Browning.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Harvard University.
1. On his way to Venice during his second Italian journey in August 1844. The “little thing” is “How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix” (Dramatic Romances and Lyrics, 1845). In later letters, RB recalls that composition occurred off Tangier.
2. Daniello Bartoli, De’ Simboli trasportati al morale, ed. Angelo Cerutti ([1830]). RB’s copy contains many notes in his hand, “among them a statement that ‘How they brought the Good News’ and ‘Home-Thoughts from Abroad’ were originally written down in pencil inside the front cover. These are now effaced but still apparent” (see Reconstruction, A168). RB later presented the book to Mrs. Orr.
3. The election for Professor of Poetry at Oxford, which was won by Francis Doyle (see letter 5852, note 1).
4. i.e., the Athenæum Club.
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