SD2691. Frances Elinor Colvile to Jane Maria Strachey

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 302 (in part).

8. Rutland Gate

April 4th 1864.

Dearest Darling,

I have behaved like a wretch in not writing for so long. …

Wasn’t it odd, about a week after I got your letter about Browning’s poetry, I met him at dinner. He took me down, & he talked very agreeably. Dr de Mussy (my Dr) told me a remarkable thing about him. Adelaide Procter was a daughter of Barry Cornwall. He is an old man & in very bad health. Adelaide died a little while ago, after a long illness, & the poor old man was in despair. They did not know how they should manage on the day of the funeral, till Mrs Procter thought of sending for Mr Browning. He sat with the old man, & made him forget all about the funeral—he heard nothing. Dr de Mussy says he is more full of information upon everything than you can imagine. I hoped he wd have called here by this time—he said he would but I suppose he thinks we are out of town now. …

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: India Office Records.

___________________