6001. James Spedding to RB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 283–284.

80, Westbourne Terrace,

London. W.

Saturday morning [ca. 1868] [1]

My dear Browning

Do you happen to be disengaged on Wednesday next? My brother [2] is staying with us for a few days, and I should like you to see each other. We have no party—but I have always found that the party in this house does as well as any other, when you introduce a foreign ingredient to excite it. Hour, 7.30[.]

Yrs very truly

Jas Spedding

Publication: BBIS-8, p. 48.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Approximate dating based on Spedding’s return address, where he moved in 1867 (see letter 5899, note 2), and the death of his brother in November 1870.

2. Thomas Storey Spedding (1800–70), of Mirehouse, Bassenthwaite, Cumberland, eldest of four sons of John Spedding (1770–1851) and his wife, Sarah (née Gibson, 1766–1842). He was James Spedding’s only surviving brother.

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