SD1501. Dante Gabriel Rossetti to Walter H. Deverell

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 17, 271 (in part).

17 Newman Str.

Saturday [Postmark: 30 August 1851]

Dear Deverell—

I know it is a shame that I have not yet answered your last friendly missive– …

What do you think? Read made in Florence the acquaintance of Browning; & that stunner being in London at present, we called on him together. He had heard speech of me by Read, & remembered also perfectly our correspondence about “Pauline.” He promised to call on me forthwith, which however he has not yet done. In person he is short but so well made that he scarcely looks so: his head is most stunning, & even handsome in the common sense of the term. I also saw Mrs B.—who, I am sorry to say between ourselves, is as unattractive a person as can well be imagined. She looks quite worn out with illness, & speaks in the tone of an invalid; probably however one might manage to forget this if one got into animated conversation with her– Their child seems healthy enough– …

Address: W. H. Deverell Esqr / Liverpool Arms / Kingston Hill / Kingston-on-Thames.

Publication: Rossetti, 1, 181–182.

Manuscript: Huntington Library.

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