2866. EBB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 16, 161–162.
[Florence]
[?9] [July 1850] [1]
Thank you, thank you, my dear Miss Blagden—you are very kind, and I shall bear your ‘isinglass’ in mind––only just now nothing but keeping quiet for a little while can do for me– It is rather matter of precaution than anything else, [2] .. and this change to coolness is reviving to us all, and little Babe’s cheeks, which I think most about, are scarcely as pale as they were.–
The coral, we have not found, I am sorry to say,—but these gloves .. are they not yours? No other visitor of ours could leave such tiney gloves, I am certain– They must be Cinderella’s!–
Ever affectionately yours
Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Wednesday–
Too surely Sir Robert Peel is dead. [3] It appears that he was quite conscious .. even received the sacrament .. and replied to some observation, that “he could only think now of the vanity of life”. The House was adjourned out of respect, on a motion by Hume—& Mr Gladstone [4] attempting to speak, was interrupted by tears. Robert tells me these things out of Galignani, & I repeat them lest you shd not yet have sight of a paper. We were talking of “worms & epitaphs” [5] all day yesterday, till I really could’nt bear it any longer & begged for another topic– His regards with mine, go to you, dear Miss Blagden. Mind you never forget us when you come to Florence–
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. Conjectural dating based on EBB’s reference to Sir Robert Peel’s death, which occurred on 2 July 1850, and which was reported in Galignani’s Messenger of 4 July 1850. The first Wednesday following that date was 10 July.
2. A reference to EBB’s fifth pregnancy.
3. Robert Peel (1788–1850), who served two terms as Prime Minister (1834–35 and 1841–46), was thrown from his horse on 29 June and died three days later from the resulting injuries.
4. William Ewart Gladstone (1809–98) served as prime minister four times between the years 1868–94. He was currently Member of Parliament for Oxford University. Joseph Hume (1777–1855) was a Member of Parliament briefly in 1812, then, except for one short break, from 1818 until his death. He was a leader of the Radical party for 30 years and, according to the DNB, “spoke longer and oftener and probably worse than any other private member.”
5. King Richard II, III, 2, 145.
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