The Committee hope also to have Papers from the Rev. Professor Mahaffy on Browning's Transcripts and Translations from the Greek; from Professor Johnson on Sludge the Medium, and from Miss Rochfort-Smith on Shakspere and Browning. § 10. In the Founders' Prospectus it was said that the Society might not be a large or a permanent one. In view of the concentration of interest which would most probably be given to a Society of limited duration, and considering the enormous field of labour in English Literature, which is increasing every year, some of the members of the Committee have suggested that a limit of, say, five years, should at once be put upon the Society's duration. On the other hand, others think it would be well to keep the Society on foot as long as it numbers a hundred Members, in order that fresh students of Browning may be continually drawn to it. The Committee feel that this is a question to be decided by the Society at large; and they will be glad to hear the opinions of Members on the point. § 11. The Committee, considering that their Funds are not likely to be large, and that other Work appears to be more pressing than that of the publication of a Concordance, have been obliged to set Mr. T. J. Wise free from his kind promise to make a Browning Concordance, for which promise, of which he had begun the fulfilment, they express to him their very hearty thanks. § 12. The Committee acknowledge with thanks the following: (1) The Woodbury-type Photographs of Browning, in three sizes, presented by Mrs. Sutherland Orr. (2) A Donation of Ten Guineas made through Miss E. H. Hickey. (3) A Donation of Eight Pounds from the Misses Lewis. (4) A Donation of Two Pounds each from Mrs. Reinagle and Miss Arthur. (5) A Donation of Fifteen Shillings from Mrs. Field. (6) The doubling of their Subscriptions by Lady MountTemple and Mrs. Fitz-Gerald. (7) The Subscription of Three Pounds to the Ring and Book Fund by Mrs. Reinagle, and of Two Guineas by the Rev. J. D. Williams, and of One Guinea by Miss Gray Allen. (8) A Donation of Five Pounds for Entertainment expenses from Mrs. Sutherland Orr. (9) A Donation of Three Pounds thirteen shillings from Mrs. Fitz-Gerald. The Society specially thanks the Council of University College for the use of Rooms for the Society's Meetings: the Writers of Papers read before the Society or published by it: the members who took the Chair at its Meetings, and the nonmembers, Mr. W. H. Holman Hunt and the Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford, who presided at two of the said Meetings: Mr. Kingsland, who reported the Discussions at the Meetings: the Officers of the Society: the Committee of Entertainment and Mr. Malcolm Lawson, who organized the Entertainment of June 29th: the Ladies and Gentlemen who took part in the said Entertainment: the Ladies at whose houses the private Meetings were held; and the Editor of The Academy. OTHER BROWNING SOCIETIES. We have been furnished with the following particulars by the kindness of the Honorary Secretaries. OXFORD. Leonard Huxley, Hon. Sec. The Society met twice in each term during the current year. Papers were read on Browning's Dramas by Mr. W. L. Courtney; on Rabbi Ben Ezra by Mr. T. S. Omond; on Saul by the Rev. H. C. Beeching, and on Filippo Baldinucci anonymously. Several recitations from Browning's poetry were also given: from Balaustion, by Miss Wordsworth; Holy Cross Day, by the Rector of Lincoln; Martin Relph, by Mr. Horton; from Christmas Eve, by Mr. J. King: Prospice, by Mr. MacColl; and Ivan Ivanovitch, by Mr. Courtney. Members of the Society also gave a Reading of the Return of the Druses. CHELTENHAM. Mrs. Owen was the Honorary Secretary of this Society, and to her enthusiasm as well as to her well-known literary and social talents a large portion of its success is doubtless due. It now numbers thirty-seven members, and their meetings are held monthly. In February Colombe's Birthday was read, different members taking the various parts in the Play. Some short Papers upon it followed. In March Saul was read, and a Paper and Discussion followed. In May Strafford was read in parts, and three short Papers on the Play followed. In June A Soul's Tragedy was read in parts, and was followed by three short Papers, and a Discussion, in which there was a considerable division of opinion as to the Play. In July the subject of Music as Treated by Robert Browning' is to be discussed, and the poems Abt Vogler, A Toccata of Galuppi's, and Master Hugues of Saxe Gotha will be read. GENERAL NOTES ON LOCAL SOCIETIES. BORDER DISTRICT. The Rev. H. J. Bulkeley, M.A., has given Lectures and Readings illustrative of Browning's Works, at sundry places in the north of England, to audiences chiefly composed of Local Literary and Scientific Societies. BURNLEY. Mr. Sagar, the Hon. Sec., has read, during the last Session, three or four of Browning's poems before the Burnley Literary and Scientific Club, and has read papers on James Lee's Wife and Fears and Scruples. He has also had many private readings with friends at his house. BRADFORD. The Society has met regularly, and read Poems and Papers explanatory of them, followed by Discussions. AMERICA. Professor Corson has been indefatigable in Browning work. He has lectured at Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Syracuse, and has led to the foundation of various Clubs for the study of Browning's works. Professor Gilmore has lectured at Concord and Rochester. Mr. Levi Thaxter has given Readings at Philadelphia, &c. SYRACUSE, N. Y., Miss H. Mills, Hon. Sec. The members have just finished reading The Ring and the Book, having been engaged in its study for some months. The Club includes people of all shades of belief, from Catholicism to complete liberalism, but no difficulty has been found in discussing all questions most freely. SUBSCRIPTIONS. Subscriptions for the Third Year became due on July 1, 1883. It would save much time and trouble if Members would kindly send in their Subscriptions at an early date to the Honorary Secretary, and if they would sign a Form authorizing their Bankers to pay the annual Subscription on every 1st of July. PUBLICATIONS. 1. The Browning Society's Papers, 1881-4. Part I, p. 1-116 (presented by Mr. Furnivall). 1. A Reprint of BROWNING'S Introductory Essay to the 25 spurious Letters of Percy Bysshe Shelley, 1852,-On the Objective and Subjective Poet, on the relation of the Poet's Life to his Work; on Shelley, his Nature, Art, and Character. 2. A Bibliography of ROBERT BROWNING, 1833-1881: Alphabetical and Chronological Lists of BROWNING'S Works, with Reprints of discontinued Prefaces, of Ben Karshook's Wisdom, partial collations of Sordello 1840, 1863, and Paracelsus 1835, 1863, &c.; and with Trial-Lists of the Criticisms on BROWNING's Works, Personal Notices of him, &c., by F. J. FURNIVALL. 2. The Browning Society's Papers, 1881-4. Part II, p. 117-258. 3. Additions to the Bibliography of R. BROWNING, by F. J. FURNIVALL. 1. Browning's Acted Plays. 2. Fresh Entries of Criticisms on Browning's Works. 3. Fresh Personal Notices of Browning. 4. Notes on Browning's Poems and my Bibliography. 5. Short Index. 4. Mr. KIRKMAN's Address at the Inaugural Meeting of the Society, Oct. 28, 1881. 5. Mr. SHARPE's Paper on Pietro of Abano, and Dramatic Idyls, Series II. 6. Mr. NETTLESHIP'S Analysis and Sketch of Fifine at the Fair. 7. Classification of Browning's Poems. 8. Mrs. ORR's Classification of Browning's Poems. 9. Mr. JAMES THOMSON'S Notes on the Genius of Robert Browning. 10. Mr. RADFORD on the Moorish Front to the Duomo of Florence in Luria, I. 122-32. 11. Mr. RADFORD on the original of "NED BRATTS," Dramatic Lyrics, I. p. 107-143. 12. Mr. SHARPE's Analysis and Summary of Fifine at the Fair. For 1882-3. 3. The Browning Society's Papers, 1881-4. Pt. III, p. 259-380, 1*—48*. 13. Mr. BURY on Browning's Philosophy. 14. Prof. JOHNSON on Bishop Blougram. 15. Prof. CORSON on " Personality, and Art as its vice-agent, as treated by Browning." 16. Miss BEALE on "The Religious Teaching of Browning." 17. A short Account of the Abbé VOGLER (ABT VOGLER), by Miss Eleanor Marx. 18. Prof. JOHNSON on "Conscience and Art in Browning." 19. The Monthly Abstract of such Papers as have not been printed in full, and of the Discussions on all that have been discussed. Nos. I-X. 4. Illustrations to BROWNING'S Poems. Part I: Photographs of a. Andrea del Sarto's Picture of himself and his Wife, in the Pitti Palace, Florence, which suggested Browning's poem Andrea del Sarto; b. Fra Lippo Lippi's 'Coronation of the Virgin,' in the Accademia delle belle Arti, Florence (the painting described at the end of Browning's Fra Lippo); c. Guercino's Angel and Child,' at Fano (for The Guardian Angel); with an Introduction by E. RADFORD. 5. a. An Engraving (by Dawson's process) of Mr. C. Fairfax Murray's drawing of Andrea del Sarto's Picture named above. b. Woodbury-Type copies of Fradelle's Cabinet Photograph of ROBERT BROWNING in 3 sizes, Imperial 4to., demy 8vo., and fcap. 8vo., to bind with the Society's Illustrations, and Papers, and with Browning's Poems: b. presented by Mrs. Sutherland Orr. For 1883-4. (Probably.) 6. The Browning Society's Papers, 1881-4. Pt. IV, p. 381-474, 49*-78*. 7. The Browning Primer. Written by Mrs. SUTHERLAND ORR. 8. The Browning Society's Papers, 1883-4. Part V, including the chief Papers read during the Session 1883-4, and The Monthly Abstract, No. XIX. 9. Photographs of the House where Browning lives. A Lexicon of Browning Allusions, by the Rev. F. E. MILLSON, M.A. All these Parts are priced 10s. each. To Members for the current year they are 3s. 6d. |