5949. Jean Ingelow to RB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 238–239.

15. A. Holland St–

Kensington

Tuesday. July 23rd [1867] [1]

My dear Mr Browning

I send with this note a little volume of verses [2] which I hope you will do me the favour to accept– I very much wished to send you the former one, [3] but it was so much overpraised that I was ashamed to offer it with all its little feminine shortcomings to a poet. This one however has not pleased the critics hitherto excepting in one or two cases, so I do not feel so much put out of countenance in venturing to send it to you[.]

My younger brother [4] & I are going to start for a month’s change on the Continent next Friday, this is earlier than we had intended to leave London, or we would have discovered your address instead of sending to you through your publisher.

I am dear Mr Browning

Very sincerely yours

Jean Ingelow. [5]

Address: Robert Browning Esq / Care of Messrs Chapman and Hall / 193 Piccadilly / W. Redirected: 19 Warwick Crescent / Westbourne Grove.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Year provided by postmark.

2. A Story of Doom, and Other Poems (1867), published by Longmans, Green, and Co. in early June.

3. Poems (1863).

4. Miss Ingelow had four younger brothers, two of whom were living in Holland Street at this time: William Frederick Ingelow (1828–86), bank manager, and Benjamin Ingelow (1835–1926), architect.

5. Jean Ingelow (1820–97), poet, born in Boston, Lincolnshire, was the eldest child of William Ingelow (1794/95–1855) and his wife, Jean (née Kilgour, 1798–1876).

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