613. EBB to John Kenyon

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 11.

[London]

[ca. February 1838] [1]

My dear Mr Kenyon,

I am so sure that you are not laughing at me, that I am ready to act the “critic” for your good-natured amusement at any time,—& the more ready, as I feel very sure of greater pleasure being in store for me from the reading of your MSS, [2] than even that great human pleasure of finding fault. You will not have to find fault with me for being uncandid. I wish I were as free from every other deficiency & inadequacy.

Thank you for your indulgence to my mysticism. It was not indeed meant to be so much so!——but your servant is here again.

Believe me

Ever truly yours

EBB.

Address, on integral page: John Kenyon Esqr / 4 Harley Place.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Dated by the reference to Kenyon’s manuscript.

2. When Kenyon’s volume of Poems: For the Most Part Occasional was published, it contained a note dated 26 April 1838. As EBB is reading the poems in manuscript, this letter must antedate April by some weeks.

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