'Balaustion's Adventure' and 'Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau' were published, respectively, in August and December 1871. They had been preceded in the March of the same year by a ballad, 'Herve Riel', afterwards reprinted in the 'Pacchiarotto' volume, and which Mr. Browning now sold to the 'Cornhill Magazine' for the benefit of the French sufferers by the war. The circumstances of this little transaction, unique in Mr. Browning's experience, are set forth in the following letter: Feb. 4, '71. 'My dear Smith,--I want to give something to the people in Paris, and can afford so very little just now, that I am forced upon an expedient. Will you buy of me that poem which poor Simeon praised in a letter you saw, and which I like better than most things I have done of late?--Buy,--I mean,--the right of printing it in the Pall Mall and, if you please, the Cornhill also,--the copyright remaining with me. You remember you wanted to print it in the Cornhill, and I was obstinate: there is hardly any occasion on which I should be otherwise, if the printing any poem of mine in a magazine were purely for my own sake: so, any liberality you exercise will not be drawn into a precedent against you. I fancy this is a case in which one may handsomely puff one's own ware, and I venture to call my verses good for once. I send them to you directly, because expedition will render whatever I contribute more valuable: for when you make up your mind as to how liberally I shall be enabled to give, you must send me a cheque and I will send the same as the "Product of a Poem"--so that your light will shine deservedly. Now, begin proceedings by reading the poem to Mrs. Smith,--by whose judgment I will cheerfully be bound; and, with her approval, second my endeavour as best you can. Would,--for the love of France,--that this were a "Song of a Wren"--then should the guineas equal the lines; as it is, do what you safely may for the song of a Robin--Browning--who is yours very truly, into the bargain. 'P.S. The copy is so clear and careful that you might, with a good Reader, print it on Monday, nor need my help for corrections: I shall however be always at home, and ready at a moment's notice: return the copy, if you please, as I promised it to my son long ago.' Mr. Smith gave him 100 guineas as the price of the poem. He wrote concerning the two longer poems, first probably at the close of this year, and again in January 1872, to Miss Blagden.