3780. Anna Brownell Jameson to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 22, 213–214.
Ealing
May 6. [1856] [1]
Dearest Ba, our letters crossed each other—if I had recd yours before I wrote—I should not have suggested the thought of a journey– I supposed you did not know of poor Mr Kenyon[’]s state as you had not alluded to it in any of your letters—nor till I saw Miss Bailey [sic] the second time did I know she was in constant correspondence with you—of course it would not be well to come on his account till you are certain that he wishes it—& as a single day would bring Robert here if his friend wished it—there is no hurry at present– Mr Kenyon was easier when I called there on Saturday before leaving town—I do not think there is hope in any one near him, but Miss Bailey is not of a hopeful nature—she is devoted to him and he has every possible soulagement [2] —that his case admits of– I am glad Robert has offered to come over—if the poor invalid were capable of being amused or cheered what could he desire more than to have that bright spirit & exhaustless intellect near him—that tender kind heart which I have seen womanish in its tenderness, to sympathise—but I am afraid the suffering & mal-aise are too constant—it is not however always pain– Madme Braun is coming from Rome, on a visit to Miss Bailey[.] You have probably seen her at Paris– I did not see Robert’s portrait—but I shall see it in a few days. The portrait of Dickens by Ary Scheffer is very fine & has an honorable place– Leighton[’]s picture is full of talent—originality & power—& full of mistakes which might have been so easily avoided!—& as it is perhaps the most ambitious picture in the Exhibition the critics will not spare him—but the man who could paint such a picture will live (I hope) to do great things[.] The group of Pluto & proserpine is the best part of the picture—what I thought of the other figures I told him plainly enough when I saw it at Paris– Fanny Kemble is going to America—to be present at the marriage of her oldest daughter– [3] Lady Monson is very poorly– I am at work
<…> [4]
and ever dear friends
your affectionate
Anna J
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Year provided by Mrs. Jameson’s reference to Ary Scheffer’s portrait of Dickens.
2. “Relief.”
3. Sarah Butler (1835–1908) did not marry at this time, though she was seeing her future husband, Owen Jones Wister (1825–96), whom she married in October 1859. Her younger sister, Frances (1838–1910), was married to James Wentworth Leigh (1838–1923) in June 1871. Fanny Kemble travelled to America in May 1856 to spend a “two-month holiday” with her daughters (Deirdre David, Fanny Kemble: A Performed Life, Philadelphia, 2007, p. 254).
4. The rest of the letter is missing, except for the conclusion, which is written in the margin of the first page.
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