2857. EBB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 16, 132–133.
[Florence]
Friday evening [ca. June 1850] [1]
My dear Miss Blagden,
We were out walking when your note came, & when it was opened the shops were shut– Alas, for your tea! Wilson fears that it being the habit of your messenger to call here earlier in the morning than the commercial people of Florence like to be stirring, she wont be able to make the purchase in time for him—but what she can do, she will. She fails too in the commission about the gown. At one of the several shops she tried, they well remembered selling you the stuff, and they had since sold the whole piece– Not another braccio [2] to be had! Very vexatious. The tea we will at least send on sunday morning when the Galignani goes. How very kind you are to remember me in the matter of the debate of the National Assembly, [3] & how I shall owe you another pleasure besides Thursday’s .. which was pure pleasure as I assured you! You are too good, too, about sunday and our child! The ‘balia’ accepts it as consolation. Baby was as much disappointed as any one on thursday, and cried to go back to the delightful carriage. We had to ring all the bells to pacify him. So, if it should be fine on sunday, I really shall send him your way—really.
Here is a paul & a half enclosed! [4] Because, though I am not profound in calculations, certainly the half of seven-pauls is three & a half, & not five, which you sent.
With kind regards to Miss Agassiz, [5] whose acquaintance we were so glad to make, believe me dear Miss Blagden
affectionately yours
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. Dating based on EBB’s reference to the National Assembly (see note 3).
2. Literally “arm,” a term used for a measurement of about two feet.
3. A number of issues were being debated during this period in the French National Assembly, including a restrictive electoral law that was enacted on 31 May 1850.
4. The Tuscan paul at this time was worth approximately 5½ English pence.
5. Charlotte Louisa Susanna Agassiz (1822–1900), the daughter of Jean Gabriel Agassiz (1784?–1845) and his wife Charlotte (née Valloton, 1798?–1822). Her aunt was Louisa Agassiz (1768?–1847), with whom Isa Blagden was acquainted in her youth.
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