3036. EBB to David & Eliza Anne Ogilvy
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 18, 98–100.
138. Avenue des Ch. Elysées–
April– 24. [1852] [1]
My dear friends, we have succeeded I think in the great search, and if you dont object to the price (two hundred & fifty francs) & to being on the second floor, I am almost sure you will like the rest. We had intended to settle you at a much cheaper rate, and I confess to you that your requirements might have been met at a less sum,—but as you give us licence as far as three hundred, I really do think that we are justified in giving two hundred & fifty for such a quantity of room & cleanliness & such a delightful situation. You have five bedrooms, salon & salle à manger, kitchen, antichamber &c, & carpets everywhere. Mr Ogilvy can have his dressingroom, & you will all have air, & silence at need. To have taken you a squeezed up apartment at two hundred, involving the necessary nursery-thunders during every half hour of the day, would scarcely have been fifty francs cheaper to you, dearest Mrs Ogilvy, now that you are ill & nervous. You have attendance in the house, (for everything except cooking dinners), at twenty five francs the month. Of course you bring linen & plate, therefore I have said nothing of either– A family is in occupation of the apartment at present & will be till the twenty ninth, so that I have taken it exactly as you desired, from the first of May. You will be close to us, and your windows have a splendid view on the great ‘avenue,’ & I earnestly hope that altogether you will be as contented as I am.
Yet we failed of one desire we had—that of settling you in this house. But as Mr Byrne our Irish ‘proprietaire,’ [2] insists on asking three hundred francs for very inferior accommodation, we must be just to you & not think of our own interests too much. Also, you will be very near us. It will be just the difference of putting on a bonnet.
How glad we shall be to see you—how very glad! Wiedeman is properly indoctrinated in the approaching arrival of “suo fratello,” [3] but as a “fratello” seems to remain a very mythical sort of personage to him, clearly to be classed with at least the “angiolini,” [4] I have more success in evoking the memories of the “tre bambini” [5] of Florence who used to take tea with him. Either he remembers or pretends to remember them perfectly, .. together with the ‘gondolas’ of Venice!
Mrs Jameson has taken rooms in this house, & will remain for a month or more– Our own plans are uncertain, but we shall probably be in England at the end of June for a time, reserving Italy for the winter.
“Miss Mitford’s great age”!– But she is not of a great age, I am glad to say. She is as young, too, in the spirit, as you yourself are,—and as to any man or woman on the earth, venturing to put out a finger in order “to arrange her papers,” it is quite out of the possibilities– No—all that can be said is, .. what’s kindly meant should be accepted in a kind spirit .. if the temper can admit of it.
I direct this as you desire– You may arrive at any hour on the first of May—only I wish it were possible to have a line from you naming the hour, for your own sakes, that there might be preparation according to it–
Dont fancy I have been taking writing lessons, though I do write so much worse than usual– Here’s a pen like a poker, and a post hour too pressing! With love from us all three to all of you, believe me your ever affectionate
Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Drive to 1. Rue de l’Oratoire, Champs Elysées. It’s a corner house. The coup d’etat has had the effect of raising prices & Paris is very full.
Address: Madame Ogilvy / Poste Restante / Lyons.
Publication: EBB-EAHO, pp. 75–77.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
1. Year provided by postmark.
2. “Landlord.”
3. “His brother.”
4. “Little angels.”
5. “Three children.”
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