5991. Benjamin Jowett to RB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 275–276.

Inglewood

Torquay

Dec. 22. [1867] [1]

My dear Browning

I think that the plan of your Son staying at Oxford has quite answered; he has greatly improved in his work & also, as it seems to me, gained strength of character as well. I am told that he gets on very well with the undergraduates; & let me tell you for myself that I heartily like him. He is repairing his deficiencies in Greek Grammar & will I think be quite ready for Examination at the beginning of the Easter Term. Will you write to the Master & propose this to him & also that if this can be managed, he should come into residence immediately afterwards?

I have advised him to go to Ellis who is one of the best Oxford Scholars during the vacation, to read Homer & Thucydides with him. When he has passed ‘the hatch’ he can advantageously go back to German & French.

I find him very intelligent, but unused to writing in English & also deficient in memory. But I hope that we shall be able to remedy this.

I trust that your long poem is approaching completion[.] I think you know that it is a real pleasure to me to do what I can about your boy

Ever yours

B Jowett

Address: Robert Browning Esqe / 19 Warwick Crescent / Upper Westbourne Terrace / London.

Publication: Gertrude Reese, “Robert Browning and His Son,” PMLA, 61 (September 1946), 790–791.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Year provided by postmark.

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