SD1046.1. John Forster to William Johnson Fox

Addendum to The Brownings’ Correspondence, vol. 4.

[London]

Saturday 21st Septr 1839

My dear Fox

Ask of Miss Flower this question for me.

If friendly relations are to be resumed between myself and Browning, on whom, in her judgment, and taking into account my obvious motive in all that passed, rests the propriety of making the first advance?

I think I know what her answer will be, but yet there will be much satisfaction in having it from herself. You had not seen her to speak of the matters yesterday before we met, and though, if I sought a man’s judgment, I would never ask beyond your own, you will forgive the anxiety I have, in such a case as this, to be right in Miss Flower’s opinion. Her “roman-nosed grandeur” is the only thing that dashes my self-approving recollections of the foolish quarrel. Nevertheless, it was not grandeur.

I leave town tonight for a few days (till Thursday indeed) and wish to be quite clear in conscience before I go. I have not heard from Browning. He waits, it is clear, till I break his “pet” for him. It would be mortifying to me if I were not justified in letting him continue to wait, but it would mortify me more to interrupt or suspend, by anything I could blame myself for hereafter, a friendship on which I placed no indifferent value.

I see a notice of Cromwell announced in the London & Westminster. Can it be Mills? I pray not Robertson’s? Know you anything of it?

I think you’ll like my line of notice of Twelfth Night.

Always & Ever Yours

John Forster.

Address, on integral page: W. J. Fox Esqr / 5. Craven Hill / Bayswater.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

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