3451. Robert Bulwer Lytton to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 20, 263–270.
Knebworth
July 19. 1854
My dear Browning,
I dare not fancy what you must think of me, who have so long left unanswered that most kind and welcome letter of yours—and this the more inexcusably since it was in my special and particular behalf that this dear, and altogether unrequited letter was written. Other excuse, or better, than this I have not: that ever since I set foot in Engd I have been in great vexation and affliction of mind—cumbered, too, about many things, and ever unable to make my own one quiet moment, in all this time!
More than this, I cannot say;—but that you would readily forgive my past and seemingly so churlish silence, could you know how sadly far from all façons de parler, [1] is this excuse, I am quite sure:
Now, my dear Friend, I cannot rest till I have warmly and gratefully thanked you for all that you have so ably & so kindly done in my cause. I feel that there are very few indeed who would have so promptly recalled and so energetically aided the interests of an absent friend: and for all that you have accomplisht in this matter you have my heartiest appreciation & warm thanks.
Your announcement was a great surprise to me. And as for Mr Wood I do not now think one bit the better of him for the forced surrender of the goods & chattels– I think him still, a poor Take in—and nothing better—but of course I have neither any wish to do him injury, nor to proclaim my own foolish position in this matter– Nor should I have done so in any case. For the money I never expected to see it again– But I think it better for Mr Wood’s interests as well as my own, that I should receive it. The exact sum—I forget (I think it amounted to 13£) But Mr Wood himself cannot be ignorant of this, as I sent to him—the acct of the expenses on the double protest, with all the items, just as I recd them from Brown; [2] if Mr Wood professes—to have not recd my letter—(wh he never answered) Mr Brown, I have no doubt, will remember the matter, & may have kept some acct of it. I enclose a line to him, which it wd be very kind of you to send him; and I think that the better plan, will be to pay into French’s hands [3] —the money, which you have so kindly undertaken to hold on my account; and I will write to him to transmit it to me. [4]
If, however, you think this young fellow really hard up, and in a better and honester frame of mind, than his last letter to me seemed to indicate,—if in short you think it would be in any respect adviseable, I leave it to you, to remit the debt altogether, & return to him the money. I should tell you, however, that since I heard from you, I have recd what I think a very impertinent letter from a Mr Nicols, [5] —a friend of Mr Wood’s upon whom the Bill was drawn, stating on Mr Wood’s behalf that he (Mr W) is very indignant at hearing in Florence, that I had circulated stories prejudicial to his character, & requesting & [sic, for an] explanation. Now this is really too impertinent & ridiculous: & makes me feel in no whit inclined to think better of Mr Wood, or remit his debt to me.
But enough of this matter nimium vexatus!– [6]
I have really so much to say, I dont know where to begin.
I must tell you that on arriving at Marseilles in that “fatal and perfidious bark, rigged in the Ecclipse & built with curses dark” [7] —that never too much to be abused and detested Bastia boat, (in which I hope you will never put foot) “on looking over the vessel’s side” [8] I pecieved [sic], in a little boat, two people, whom, from your description, there was no possible doubting for Mr & Mrs Brotherton! They followed us as far as Avignon, where we lost sight of them– He in his normal state,—soaked in Brandy I shd think– We did not make acquaintance, but he startled every body at the Table d’hôte at Avignon, by stroking that wonderful Beard, and calling out across the table in a fierce challenging voice (as he helped himself to Asparagus) “Fancy a man not liking Asparagus! What a d___d snob he must be!” I wonder he did not get kicked– I think that poor creature—his wife, seemed to admire all this, in a frightened sort of a way.
Well here I am at K[nebworth]– To morrow the House will be full– Forster comes down– Elwyn Edtor of the Qua[r]terly [9] (vice Lockhart) the Lawrences [10] —(American) My Aunt Lady B [11] —Sir Edn Landseer—& some more people whom I dont know. I saw Mrs Procter in town—met her at dinner at my Father’s & she spoke of you with great affection. You can fancy how glad I was to be able to talk to her of you–
Next week, I think of going down to Oxford– I have an invitation to Merton, & wish much to see this precious University– I expect to appreciate chinese shoes, & dwarf oaks in flower pots, after two days there. Then I am going to stay a week or so with Forster in town—& I have an engagement to go & see Ward, [12] the artist, at Slough– The man, I mean, whose pictures of “The last night of Argyle”, & “Marie Antoinette in Prison” I doubt not you have heard of. He is an exceedingly nice fellow—full of fine character, & much information. I think you would like him.
Oh, I had half forgotten to tell you the last London gossip, which you must hear– It is about Ruskin– He of “The Stones of Venice” you know & “The Modern Painters” &c[.]
No doubt you remember that business about his wife at Venice, and the man who was accused of having stolen jewels from her room—(being there under certain circumstances) whom by the way I knew—an Englishman in the Austn Service! [13] Well, now Mrs Ruskin is seeking a divorce from her husband—on the strangest grounds– It seems that on the very day of their marriage, Mr R. after having expatiated at length upon the lives of the “Holy Virgins of Old” informed his bride that he had no intention whatever of having children—& from that day to this, it is avouched, they have been living together as brother & sister … Well, the Lady (as her story goes, undisputed, I believe, by Ruskin) seems to have pardoned this manque de devoir du Mari, [14] & unrepiningly imitated the “Holy Virgins of Old” until she found that her husband was forever throwing her in the way of temptation, & laying man-traps for her—when she indignantly revolted from so strange & shocking a state of things—& now comes the Divorce! [15] You may fancy all the jokes on this at the London dinner tables—the stones of Venice not being spared!
I am looking forward to a sight of the English lakes, & Scotland—which I have not yet seen—but how I long for Italy once more I cannot possibly say! O Florence! Florence! Quando te aspiciam! [16]
Now I have collected all possible “Spirit news” for Mrs Browning—but have heard so much I dont know what to tell her– My father’s own experiences are certainly very remarkable. He tells me that when he first went to Mrs Hadyn’s [17] after having witnessed the usual phenomena there, & not being at all satisfied with these, he demanded some further proof of abnormal Agency. Mrs H. asked him to suggest one which he wd consider satisfactory—and he suggested that a large & heavy lamp which stood upon the table should be shaken backwards & forwards, witht the table itself being moved, & witht any imposition of hands upon either the lamp or the table. Mrs H objected that this was hardly a fair thing to ask as it was whol[l]y witht the range of all previous phenomena within her experience; but while she was yet speaking—the lamp began to be agitated & rock heavily & slowly to & fro. Encreasing rappidly [sic] in its over-poise on either side, until there seemed imminent danger of its being thrown down & broken, when it gradually righted itself, & remained motionless– Startled, but not altogether satisfied that this phenomenon was not the result of some mechanical arrangement; he demanded a yet more convincing proof of super human, or supernatural, causes.
Mrs H. had brought out (with American hospitality) it seems, two bottles of wine, which were standing on the sideboard. My Father demanded that the wine should be shaken in the bottles, without the bottles being moved, &, as before, without any communication from the Medium: when, instantaneously, the wine began to be agitated within the Decanters, which remained motionless, and, as tho’ there were a tide in the bottles[,] the wine heaved violently up & down against the sides of the glass, until it touched the neck of the bottles, when it slowly subsided, & returned to its original level– All this time no person was standing near the bottles, or even in their part of the room.
On a subsequent occasion, having received very unsatisfactory & absurd answers to several questions, he made some querullous & impatient observation derogatory to the character of the spirits (questioning, too, I believe, their existence as spirits) just as he was leaving the room: when suddenly the Table (near which no person was standing) of its own accord, as one says, sprang at him like a dog. The Medium was no less astonished than himself—& suggested that “the spirits were angry with his language about them.” “Then” said he laughing, “they’d better spring at me again, I think!” And immediately the Table flew at him, knocked him against the wall, and pinned him there so close, that, as it was a large table, he was in danger of being crusht; after three or four minutes the table moved slowly back (with a sort of revolving orbit-like movement) to the original position! There were present on this occasion—himself—Mrs H—and a friend of his—(I believe a lawyer)—who, he says, is a very acute man—and they were all at some distance from the table. Now, as to the higher order of manifestations, all the facts that I can collect are most unsatisfactory & inadequate.
One of the most remarkable evidences of superior intelligence; but, at the same time, to my mind a very unsatisfactory one, was related to me by my Father.
On one occasion, he says, he was in communication with the spirit of his Mother [18] —he was dissatisfied with the advice which he recd from her, on a matter of the deepest interest & importance to himself– The spirit of my sister was also (speaking after the Manner of Mediums) present. He requested them both to put him in communication with the highest & most intellectual intelligence with which they were acquainted in the spirit world—and on whose judgement & advice they could conscien[t]iously urge him to rely– They replied that they were willing to do this: but that it would require some time to select the spirit—to find him out, & to make him fully acquainted with the circumstances on which he was to decide: and a day was appointed for this spiritual interview. On the appointed day the spirit was not forthcoming, and the appointment was renewed for a later date. On that final day, the spirit of my sister alone opened the interview, & she declared that she had brought the other spirit with her—who was present & willing to communicate. My Father then asked for a sign of his presence. And immediately noises were heard—totally unlike the common “raps”—all over the room—walls floor—ceiling &c. The whole apartment shook & vibrated, & seemed to be filled with some Great Presence. The chair, my Father was sitting in, trembled violently & began to emit sound from all parts of it—sound which (from my Father’s description of it) I conceive to have been, so to speak, a sort of corruscation [sic] of little tremulous noises, but each perfectly clear & distinct.
The Spirit then said, “I am here by the direct permission of God, to warn you, to implore you, by all that is solemn & awful, as you value your earthly happiness, as you would avoid the most heart rending affliction and lifelong misery, to act—in such & such a way[”]—(here followed a communication which showed the most startling acquaintance with facts known only to my Father (as he assures me)).
My Father, then asks, that in proof of the ident[it]y & nature of the spirit, the spirit should declare what he (my Father) is thinking of–.
This is done witht hesitation. Then, my Father, says– “I have a secret known only to myself can you declare this too?[”]
It is done instantly & correctly. Then my Father enquires w[ha]t is the name of the spirit addressing him.
The raps grow very loud & strong—and a strange name which I cant remember is rapped out.
My Father– “Are you a departed spirit?” “Yes.”
[“]But no one has ever heard of this name, you bear, were you a very great spirit when you were upon earth?”
“Yes. a great spirit.[”]
“Then no one has ever heard of you—how long ago is it since you lived on earth?”
(Spirit answers so many years– I forget the date.)
(My Fathr)– [“]I remember to have heard of no one of that name in those times, altho’ so many celebrated men lived then. Perhaps this is not the name you bore on earth, but only that you now go by? …”
Sp. “This is my spirit-name not my earthly name.
F. “Do you remember your earthly name?[”]
S. Yes–
What was it–
(A pause)
F. Will you let us know?
Sp. (Very loud) “Shakespeare.[”]
After this my Father goes to Mrs H. again. Again he communicates with the spirit of my Grd Mother. He now asks if there is in the spt world, no higher spirit than Shakespeare. Spt replies yes. He asks to be put into communication with some spt higher than Shakespeare. The spt agrees to this, & appoints another day for the interview. The day arrives, and the new spirit entirely contradicts the advice given by Shakespeare. My Father says–
“But are you a greater spirit than Shakespeare?”
Spt Yes: much greater.
“What’s your name then?[”]
“Raduna”
Is that your spirit name?
“No—my earth[l]y name”
“Where did you live?[”]
In Italy.
You were an Italian then?
Yes.
When did you live
(So many years—abt Shakespeare[’]s time– I forget the date– 16— I suppose—abt Bruno’s [19] time)
And you assert you are a greater spt than Shakespeare.
Yes. Very much greater.
Did you do any thing upon earth?
Yes.
What?
Tours (or Towers) in Italy.
Nobody ever heard of you then.
I am much greater than Shakespeare.
My sister & my Grd mother then say– “He is much greater than Shakespeare”
My Father calls for Shakespeare
he comes.
Is this Spirit greater than you?
Yes much greater.
He tells me not to do what you told me but the exact opposite. Ought I to follow his advice?
O yes, by all means. It would be very wicked not to do so. You will repent it all your life if you dont.
Then all that you told me was wrong.
Yes: quite wrong.
And yet you told it me in the name of God, and invoked the witness of the supreme being to the justice of your advice. How dare you palter with me so, & blaspheme the name of God?
I was not acquainted with all the circumstances of the case ..
You have acted most infamously–
(Sp). dont scold so!
This is word for word (as nearly as I can recollect it) wt took place. I have heard much more, but I think you will already have had more than enough.
I want much to hear if you are coming to Engd I suppose not now. Pray let me soon hear from you, & tell me your plans & doings. I have left no room to say more of myself, but there isnt much to say.
You shall hear from me again very soon. You know how fondly & heartily
I am ever
Your faithful
true
Friend
Robert Lytton
If you send your letters for me to the Legation they will be forwarded to me free of Postage
Yours ever
in haste
RBL
Publication: BBIS-10, pp. 76–85.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. The OED defines the singular, “façon de parler,” as “a way or manner of speaking; a mere phrase or formula.”
2. J.H. Brown, an English banker in Florence. His advertisement in Bradshaw’s Continental Railway … Guide for July 1853 lists his place of business at 4203 and 4204 Via Rondinelli, where he “gives the highest Exchange for Bills, Circular Notes, and Letters of Credit … without any commission or charges whatever.” Also on the premises was a wine and tea warehouse.
3. Anthony French (d. 1876, aged 74), son of Anthony French, of Prospect Hill, Galway, Ireland, was created Baron French in 1839 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany. He was a partner in the banking firm of Plowden and French on Via dei Legnaioli, Florence (see Murray’s Handbook for Travellers in Northern Italy, 1854, part II, p. 444).
4. Evidently, RB had written to Lytton offering to act as intermediary in the matter of Marshall Wood’s debt. In the meantime, RB received a payment from George Clark Stanton (1832–94) and gave him the following signed receipt, dated 17 July 1854: “I have received from Mr Clarke [sic] Stanton, on the part of Mr Marshal[l] Wood, the sum of ten pounds due from the latter to Mr Lytton” (transcript in editors’ file).
5. Unidentified.
6. “Too vexed.”
7. Cf. Milton, “Lycidas” (1638), lines 100–101.
8. Cf. RB, “Waring” (1842), line 216.
9. Whitwell Elwin (1816–1900), clergyman and editor, had succeeded John Gibson Lockhart as editor of the Quarterly Review in 1853.
10. Probably Amos Adams Lawrence (1814–86), American textile magnate and philanthropist, based in Boston, and his wife Sarah Elizabeth (née Appleton, 1822–91).
11. Georgiana Charlotte Mary Bulwer (née Wellesley, 1817–78), wife of Henry Bulwer. She was the youngest daughter of Henry, 1st Lord Cowley, and niece of Arthur, 1st Duke of Wellington. She and Bulwer were married in 1848.
12. Edward Matthew Ward (1816–79), painter of historical subjects, had lived at Slough with his wife and family since 1852. “The Last Sleep of Argyll,” one of eight pictures he was commissioned to paint in 1851 for the House of Commons, was displayed at the Royal Academy Exhibition in 1854. At the exhibition of 1851, Ward entered “The Royal Family of France in the Prison of the Temple—Louis XVI., Queen Maria Antoinette … ,” which was favorably reviewed by The Athenæum of 17 May 1851 (no. 1229, p. 530).
13. Capt. Foster is named as “an Englishman in the Austrian Service” in Derrick Leon’s Ruskin: The Great Victorian (1949, p. 166), but we have been unable to further identify him. Writing from Venice, Ruskin explained the incident in a letter to his father of 15 June 1852: “The circumstances of the robbery were curious: Effie had taken all her jewels out of her drawer at eleven o’clock in order to pack them up: and was about to do so—they lying on her dressing table in their cases—when a gentleman [Capt. Foster] came in to bid us good-bye, with whom we have been on terms of considerable familiarity: He did so—and I went out on various business in the town—but the gentleman remained talking to Effie for twenty minutes more—until she also, having an appointment at twelve—was obliged to tell him to go away—and they went downstairs together—Effie locking up the room—and giving the key to Mary: Five minutes afterwards—they having parted at the bottom of the stairs—the ‘gentleman’? returns—tells Mary he wants to write a letter to me—is let into the room—stays there a quarter of an hour—calls Mary—gives her the letter and goes away. Mary locks up the room again—and this time gives the key to the waiter. About five minutes afterwards, I came in—the waiter took the key from its usual place and let me into the room. … I neither knew—nor noticed, that the jewel cases were exposed … and being in a great hurry myself, went out to my study, and left the key in the door—where it remained for twenty minutes—when Effie came in and found the jewels gone and cases left—all neatly shut” (p. 167).
14. “Lack of husbandly duty.”
15. The marriage was annulled; see letter 3428, note 16.
16. “O Florence! Florence! When shall I see you!” Cf. “O rus, quando ego te aspiciam!” “O rural home: when shall I behold you!” Horace, Satires, II, 6, 60, trans. H. Rushton Fairclough.
17. Maria Hayden.
18. Elizabeth Barbara Bulwer (née Lytton, 1773–1843).
19. Giordano Bruno (1548–1600), Italian philosopher and cosmologist. He was imprisoned at Rome for the last seven years of his life, then burned at the stake as a heretic by the Roman Inquisition.
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