751. RB to William Smith (publisher) [1]
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 267.
Hanover Cottage, Southampton St, Camberwell.
[Postmark: 7 April 1840]
Sir,
Mr Moxon has just published a long Poem of mine, “Sordello”, meant for a limited class of readers—and I am on the point of following it up by three new Dramas, written in a more popular style, and addressed to the Public at large:—a friend has called my notice to your handsome Reprints and suggested the proposal I am about to make. Would it answer your purpose to try the experiment of coming out with a new work as part of your series?– As in that case I will give you the 1st Edition for nothing—for the sake of your large circulation among a body to which my works have little access at present. Of course I mean that these Dramas should form one publication, of the same size and at the same low price as your other pamphlets. [2]
Yours truly,
Robert Browning.
Be so kind as to answer at your earliest convenience.
Mr W. Smith.
Address, on integral page: Mr William Smith, / 113 Fleet-Street.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. London Publishers and Printers c. 1800-1870, comp. Philip A.H. Brown (1982) shows Smith to have been active from 1830 to 1849, both at the address given by RB and at 2 Saville Place, Burlington Gardens.
2. On an advertisement, torn from a copy of Sordello and enclosed with this letter, RB has indicated the three works (see letter 747, note 6). When published, they were brought out by Moxon.
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