Oh, what a vision! Have you read Victor Hugo's 'Contemplations'?
We are doing so at last.
As for _me_, my eyes and my heart melted over them--some of the personal poems are overcoming in their pathos; and nothing more exquisite in poetry can express deeper pain....
Robert comes back.

He says that Mrs.Stowe was very simple and pleasant.
He likes her.

So shall I, I think.

She has the grace, too, to admire our Florence.
Your ever affectionate BA.
I dare say the illustrations will be beautiful.

But you are at work on a new book, are you not?
* * * * * The mention of the 'Contemplations' of Victor Hugo in the preceding letter supplies a clue to the date of the following draft of an appeal to the Emperor Napoleon on behalf of the poet, which has been found among Mrs.Browning's papers.