2685. Joseph Arnould to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 14, 249–251.
18. Victoria Square, Pimlico
20 July. 1847.
My dear Browning
Silence is the sole extenuation of a fault that admits of no defence; I will not therefore even raise a hand against the sentence that I know must pass against me for my long silence. Something I could say about a long & dreary task now just brought to a close, a sorry law book which has not only kept body, but mind too, so strictly confined within a narrow range of place, & of thought, that neither the one nor the other have been even of their usual poor service to my friends: now however I am within sight of shore & though “no pomp or pæan glorious” [1] attends the return from such a cruise, yet I am content to take it as a sign of better times, that I find myself able to write to you. I heard from Domett (you always ask with such interest about him that I take him first in order) 3 days ago date of his letter 17 January last: at that time he had been for some months a member of the legislative council, & was evidently (spite of his modesty one could see this) first friend & confident of Grey the clever & able governor; [2] whose policy hitherto has been merely putting into act, what Domett had previously advised on paper: since then, the present government have entirely identified themselves with the New Zealand land Company, have passed a bill conceding to the Company more than they even desired, or, to say the truth, deserved. I have not the remotest doubt from the high esteem in which our friend is held by them, that his future is quite made unless he takes more determined pains to mar it; than I think even he is likely to do.
Of poor Chris. Dowson of course you have heard: about 9 months back he broke a small blood vessel; [3] (either in the throat or chest—they do not it seems know which) in itself I believe the matter was a very trifle; but you know his highly sensitive & nervous temperament: well the thing has had the effect of so entirely prostrating his spirits, that he has been only the shadow, the very ghost of his former self (mentally I mean)—all his quips & cranks gone poor fellow, & in their place a low, fixed melancholy very painful to witness: at last his good little wife who has behaved to perfection in the whole matter got him to think that a voyage to St Petersburgh & back would amuse him more than anything else—& so about three weeks back, leaving the children behind she started with him. I make no doubt that it shall do him great good & we are soon expecting to hear of his arrival. Chorley I know tells you, what he being in the centre of the great wheel of fashion—, perpetually standing whip in hand in the middle of the giddy merry-go-round of scandal, small talk & (God save the mark) literature!—can really tell you better than almost any body, viz how the world goes on where “reeking London’s smoky caldron simmers” [4] —he has been working this year double tides—having had two operas going the whole season– Literature however, for this season, has given the critics a complete holiday—there having been I think not even a novel worth a nine days wonder.
We are just going to Election without a cry [5] —unless which the Lord forbid, they get up the old abomination of the Church in danger—No Popery—& No Education– How delightfully little the great nation & its great doings must seem to you in Vallombrosa—do the Etrurian shades, by the bye, really embower there high-overarched [6] —for your sake, in these heats, I hope so; for even here we have had a week of temperature ranging from 75 to 80 Fahrenheit & yours must be at least 10 degrees higher[.]
I am going to take this down with me to Hatcham to morrow & keep it open in order to tell you in one of the corners how they are all looking. —My wife desires her kindest regards to Mrs Browning & yourself, will you add mine & believe me my dear Browning
your affte friend
Joseph Arnould
I dare not say write soon, after my last gap of silence—but I mean it.
Hatcham New Cross
July 21st
I brought this with me to Hatcham purposely to give you a genuine account how they are all looking[:] Impressive[.] Mrs Browning is apparently stronger & better than I have almost ever seen her—always cheerful & really in all respects looking far better than she did this time last year.
Your Sister I have done nothing but pay compliments to since I came in—if compliments those can be called which were the sincere expressions of my pleasure at seeing her in all respects so fully in possession of free elastic cheerful health.
Mr Browning, looks a little fagg’d as all we London working people do with the late heats which have indeed been as I think I told you intense– We all trust you will be back next spring– Mrs. Browning especially has that thought above & beyond all other thoughts uppermost in her mind: to her I am sure it would be new life. To think you were really resolved so to do! So I do trust you will– By the bye—we all executed the deeds—in due form last Tuesday week– I do so long to have a trust dinner honoured by the presence of the cestui que trusts [7] —there if that is not a lawyers anticipation I don’t know what is! never mind it is none the less sincere– God bless you my dear friend– I wish you could feel the grasp of the hand I give you in mine.
Address, on integral page: Robert Browning Esqre / Poste Restante / Florence / Italy.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Alexander Turnbull Library.
1. Cf. Paracelsus, IV, 471.
3. This led to Dowson’s death in September 1848.
4. Byron, Beppo (1818), XLIII, 8.
5. A reference to the general election held the following week. The “Chronicle” of The Annual Register for 1847 explained that since “the old Parliament had been dissolved from consideration of the near efflux of the time limited by the constitution for the existence of any one Parliament, and not upon any political consideration, and as the great party questions had either been laid at rest or confounded with other circumstances, the present was probably the most quiet general election which has ever occurred” (p. 95).
6. An allusion to Milton, Paradise Lost, I, 303–304.
7. i.e., “the persons who will benefit by the trusts.” Arnould is referring to his appointment as a trustee to the Brownings’ marriage settlement.
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