Supporting Documents

SD1186.  Robert Browning, Sr. to Thomas Powell

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 7, 389–390.

Bank

March 11, 1843

Dear Sir,—I hope the enclosed may be acceptable as curiosities. They were written by Robert when quite a child. I once had nearly a hundred of them. But he has destroyed all that ever came in his way, having a great aversion to the practice of many biographers in recording every trifling incident that falls in their way. He has not the slightest suspicion that any of his very juvenile performances are in existence. I have several of the originals by me. They are all extemporaneous productions, nor has any one a single alteration. There was one amongst them “On Bonaparte”—remarkably beautiful—and had I not seen it in his own handwriting I never would have believed it to have been the production of a child. It is destroyed. Pardon my troubling you with these specimens, and requesting you never to mention it, as Robert would be very much hurt.

I remain, dear sir,

Your obedient servant,

R. Browning.

Text: Orr, pp. 32–33.

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