5959. RB to George Grove

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 253.

19. Warwick Crescent,

Upper Westbourne Terrace, W

Oct. 6. ’67.

Dear Mr Grove, [1]

You will have guessed I was out of hearing when your call to me continued so long without reply: I returned to London last night only, and have your kind note, and so much of pain with it as accompanies any necessity on my part of saying “no” to whatever you may please to ask. This is a very old unconquerable obstinacy of mine, now, by dint of nursing, got to be almost a principle,—not to write for magazines. I have refused so often that I could not now consent had I the best will in the world. I should particularly like to be of the least sort of service to Mr Macmillan—as I think he must know. And surely you know I would give you such a trifle as you require could it decently be.

All luck to you—and far better co-operation than that of

Yours ever very sincerely

Robert Browning.

Address: G. Grove Esq. / Sydenham. / S. [2]

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection.

1. George Grove (1820–1900), best known for editing A Dictionary of Music and Musicians (4 vols., 1879–89), became in 1866 assistant editor of Macmillan’s Magazine.

2. The address is from a transcript in the editors’ file.

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