Autograph letter signed : place not specified, to William Allingham, 1855 Nov. 25 and 1856 Jan. 8.

Discussing the publisher Routledge; mentioning that he has just returned from Paris; noting that the Brownings are there for the winter, that he may "boast of some intimacy with the glorious Robert by this time" and praising his Men and Women; mentioning Tennyson's Maud. Continuing the letter on 8 Jan. 1856: apologizing for being a poor correspondent and assuring him that Allingham's letters are a greater pleasure than any Rossetti receives except for those from Elizabeth Siddal. Thanking him for the new year's gift [Ballads, by William Hayley Esq., founded on anecdotes relating to animals, with prints designed and engraved by William Blake], and discussing his and Ruskin's favorite engravings; speaking at length about his friendship with Robert Browning, noting "of course I've been drenching myself with him at intervals since, only he gets carried off by friends & I have him not always by me;" asking for Allingham's opinion on Browning's recent work. Mentioning that Mrs Browning is a "delightfully unliterary person" and describing at great length two evenings spent with the Brownings and Tennyson, during which Tennyson "repeated the same stories about anonymous letters he gets, &c. at the very least 6 or 8 times;" effusively praising Browning and mentioning that Rossetti has painted his portrait, which hangs above his mantelpiece, in water colours, and that he hopes to paint Mr. and Mrs. Browning in oil soon. Giving news about mutual acquaintances, including Hughes, Hunt, Woolner, Patmore and Ruskin. Asking for news from Allingham and praising a "capital sonnet" of his recently published in the Idler; mentioning that he has been productively at work, though "all in water colours, and nearly all for Ruskin." Briefly reporting on the French Exhibition, mentioning that "Delacroix is one of the mighty ones of the earth."