5966. RB to George Murray Smith

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 257.

[London]

Monday Mg [21 October 1867] [1]

Dear Mr Smith,

I think I ought to tell you for the Pall Mall, what it may hear in due time though not so early, that the Society of Balliol College, Oxford, have just done me the honor of electing me a Fellow,—so writes the Master this morning. It is not quite so important a piece of news as you look for in these rattling times, but you get it first and can do what you like with it. [2] I do take it for an extraordinary favor to an unacademical liberal like me,—this caring to not only take me in but give me a voice in their doings. Don’t you think so?

Ever yours truly

Robert Browning

The Meeting of the Society which elected me took place on Saturday.

Publication: RB-GS, p. 327.

Manuscript: Eton College Library.

1. Dated by RB’s reference to his election as an honorary fellow of Balliol College (see letter 5963).

2. The following item ran in The Pall Mall Gazette of 21 October 1867: “Mr. Robert Browning was on Saturday elected a Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford” (p. 6).

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