ecause of these characteristics, but in spite
of them." The one gleam of consolation to the young poet in all this
general neglect or unfavorable comment was that of a three-column article
from the pen of John Forster in the _Examiner_, then conducted by Leigh
Hunt, and on whose staff were Sergeant Talfourd and Proctor (Barry
Cornwall) beside Forster, who was then a rising young journalist of
twenty-three, only one month the senior of Browning. But Forster spoke
with no uncertain note; rather, with authority, and in this critique he
said:

"Since the publication of 'Philip van Artevelde' we have met with no
such evidences of poetical genius ... and we may safely predict for
its author a brilliant career, if he continues true to the present
promise of his genius."

The immediate effect of the publication of "Paracelsus" was of a social
rather than of a literary character, for something in it seemed magnetic
to the life of the day, and the young poet found himself welcomed by a
brilliant literary circle. He met Wordsworth and Walter Savage Landor,
Dickens, Monckton Milnes (later Lord Houghton), Proctor (Barry Cornwall),
Horne, Sergeant Talfourd, Leigh Hunt, and others. Hunt was then domiciled
in Cheyne Row, in close proximity to the Carlyles, with whom Browning had
already formed a friendship.

Rev. William Johnson Fox, one of Browning's earliest friends, was at this
time living at Craven Hill, Bayswater, and on an evening when Macready had
dined with him, Browning came in. This evening (November 27, 1835) is
noted in Macready's diary, and after speaking of Mr. Fox as an "original
and profound thinker," he adds:

"Mr. Robert Browning, the author of 'Paracelsus,' came in after
dinner; I was very much pleased to meet him. His face is full of
intelligence.... I took Mr. Browning on, and requested to be allowed
to improve my acquaintance with him. He expressed himself warmly, as
gratified by the proposal, wished to send me his book. We exchanged
cards, and parted."

Later (under date of December 7), Mr. Macready records:

"Read 'Paracelsus,' a work of great daring, starred with poetry of
thought, feeling, diction, but occasionally obscure. The writer can
scarcely fail to be a leading spirit of the time."

On New Year's Eve Mr. Macready invited a little house party, among whom
were Forster and Browning. "Mr. Browning was very popular with the whole
party," write