6009. RB to Lady Combermere

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 290.

19. Warwick Crescent,

Upper Westbourne Terrace, W.

Jan: 24. ’68.

Dear Lady Combermere, [1]

Pray let me say how sorry I am to have been prevented last night from the honor of seeing you, as I expected would be the case– [2]

I hope I may venture to call some morning, and in some measure, make up for my disappointment.

Believe me, Dear Lady Combermere,

Very faithfully yours

Robert Browning.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Mary Woolley Cotton (née Gibbings, 1799–1889), Viscountess Combermere, third wife of Stapleton Cotton (1773–1865), 1st Viscount Combermere.

2. The Morning Post of 24 January 1868 briefly described the previous night’s affair at Lady Combermere’s: “Viscountess (Mary) Combermere entertained at dinner, at her residence in Belgrave-square, yesterday evening, his Excellency the Prussian Ambassador and Countess Bernstorff … the Duchess of Cleveland, the Marquis Caumont la Force, … &c. Later in the evening her ladyship received a small party” (p. 6).

___________________