SD1584. William Johnson Fox to Eliza Fox

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 18, 367 (in part).

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16 July 1852

… I had a charming hour with the Brownings yesterday; more fascinated with her—more than ever. She talked lots of George Sand and so beautifully. Moreover she silver-electro-typed Louis Napoleon!! They are lodging at 58 Welbeck Street; the house has a queer name on the door and belongs to some Belgian family. They came in late one night and R.B. says that in the morning twilight he saw three portraits on the bedroom wall, and speculated what they might be—light gradually showed the first: Beatrice Cenci! “Good,” said he; “in a Poetic region.” More light: the 2nd—Lord Byron! who can the 3rd be? and what think you it was but your sketch of me—He made quite a poem and a picture of the affair.

She seems much better; did not put her hand before her mouth, which I took as a compliment; and the young Florentine was gracious.

Text: Richard Garnett and Edward Garnett, The Life of W.J. Fox (London, 1910), pp. 312–313.

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