2921. RB to Reuben Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 17, 48–50.
Venice,
June 12, ’50 [sic, for 1851]. [1]
My dear Reuben,
I wrote a little note, inside a large letter, to you last week—Thursday the 5th and hope you received it duly:—in case of an accident, I may as well tell you it contained an expression of my very unaffected regret at having caused you so much trouble—partly thro’ a misunderstanding on my part of your exact meaning & wishes (though they seem simple enough on reconsideration) and partly thro’ the press of circumstances, which make it impossible to know as precisely at a distance as I should at London, what monies of mine have been paid in to my account, or not paid. I also told you that the Bill I had drawn at Florence, payable at the beginning of June, would be met by a payment of Mr Kenyon’s of [£]50, “in June”,—as he wrote—and that if the second Bill,—due at the end of the same month, drawn on you & Rothschild, thro’ Schielin [2] here,—were not previously met by the Ship-Divds (which have never yet been so late in payment)—I had instructed Mr K,—by a note in the same packet,—to pay you the amount from a reserve we have, of £200 in the Bank,—set apart for the very purpose of meeting such emergencies. I further explained the necessity of using Rothschild’s credit—not being known at Venice—and begged you to apologize to him if it was necessary. On calling this mg on Schielin he showed me a letter he had received from R—in your hand—kindly accepting my bill, and merely mentioning generally the informality of using an expired credit. I write now, first to say that if, by any accident, my former letter should have been lost,—you will of course immediately act upon this recapitulation of its contents,—by applying to my father for the money advanced—as I will give Sarianna a similar recapitulation of the letter to herself,—which would be missing too. And next,—to beg that you will send to me at Lucerne, whither I am going,—either an official permission to use the remainder of the credit (£50)—or a fresh one for that sum,—or some equivalent authorization to get the money when I shall arrive there—as otherwise I shall be in the greatest difficulty,—not knowing anybody there– I hope to be able to get as <fa>r as Lucerne,—thro’ Como,—on my present stock—and, if on my arrival, or as soon as possible after, I find a letter from you telling me exactly how matters stand between us,—if you have been duly reimbursed—and what sum of mine you may have in hand– I will, according to the information received, draw on you either at three, two or one month’s date, as you shall desire– Besides the ship-money,—averaging £120,—there will be a Bank Div. in July for £44 odd. Will you have the kindness to forgive all this trouble I am forced to put you to?– And pray lose no time in writing, as I shall wait for your letter before I try to do any thing. (N.B. Schielin charges 1 per cent commission (double the highest Florentine charge)—and much more for bills at three month’s date—in addition to the clever “dodge” of having no napoléons d’or ready, two days ago, when I went for my money—and then telling me this morning when I returned for them—that “the value having risen since then, I must pay more for them”—as indeed I did. Note, yesterday being a Festa was no day at his Bank)– I have barely time to add that I had meant to stay at Recoaro,—near here,—but find it will be better to go on to Lucerne—& there wait till I see what I can do. I don’t know whether I shall visit Milan—the heat is considerable just now,—and my boy’s cheeks seem paler than I like– Otherwise we are very well. My wife repeats her kindest thanks and regards– Ever yours most affectionately– R Browning.
Perhaps, it will be the most expeditious plan (as this is my last day here—I start early to-morrow for Padua, &c) to send this, with what I shall write & enclose, as the explanation of the business part of my letter,—to Sarianna thro’ my Father.
I beg pardon—but you see how I have spoiled my letter in a hurry [3] —please send all inside to Sarianna.
Publication: NL, pp. 47–49 (as 12 June 1850).
Manuscript: Huntington Library.
1. Year provided by RB’s reference to the Brownings’ travel plans.
2. Listed under bankers in Nuova Guida di Venezia (1847) by Mons. G.A. Moschini: “Schielin fratelli. S. Canciano calle Capellis S. M. Nova” (p. xvii).
3. When starting to address the letter, on an integral page, RB wrote “Robert” in error and apparently decided to fold and enclose this and other documents in a cover sheet.
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