563. RB to William Johnson Fox

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 238–239.

Lincoln’s Inn Flds

May-day– [1837] [1]

Dear Sir,

All my endeavours to procure a copy before this morng have been fruitless. I send the first book of the first bundle. Pray look over it .. the alterations to-night will be considerable.

The complexion of the piece is, I grieve to say, “perfect gallows” [2] just now: our King, Mr Dale, being––but you’ll see him, and, I fear, not much applaud,

Your most unworthy

son, in things literary,

Robert Browning.

P.S/ A most unnecessary desire, but urged on me by Mr Longman: [3] no notice on Str. in to-nights True Sun, lest the other papers be jealous!!! [4]

Address, on integral page: Rev. W. J. Fox. / &c &c &c.

Publication: Orr, p. 84.

Manuscript: Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection.

1. Dated by the first performance of Strafford.

2. The Tempest, I, 1, 30.

3. Probably Thomas Norton Longman (1771–1842) of the publishing firm of Longman & Rees, owners of The Edinburgh Review, although the reference could be to one of his sons, Thomas (1804–79) or William (1813–77), both of whom were associated with the family firm.

4. Underscored three times.

___________________