3865. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 64–65.
[West Cowes]
[Postmark: 21 September 1856]
My dearest Sarianna, I have the shreds of a moment to use, but I must use them, for all that. You see we have given Peni a full month, & over, at the sea,—and he is looking radiant, & with a wonderful appetite in consequence. Now we take him for a further week into the country. Robert has been very good & kind (I am resigned on the whole to my “afflictive providences,”) [1] about Taunton– Oh,—Henrietta was represented as being “in the most violent state of excitement” about our coming. Never would she have got over it, if we had left England without seeing her,—& really it would have been unsisterly on my part–
My book wears towards the end—(it wears me) and you will soon see us … on the way (Robert is much inclined to think) to Algiers .. though I lean a little, a little, to Italy, out of love– Still, there’s much to be said for Algiers. Any way, you will have us back next summer,—so dont care a bit about it– We have made up our minds, & shall make up our pockets, to return in the summer–
Did Robert tell the dear Nonno, how I went to Nisbet, [2] & what he said about the MS? But he promised to examine it, & send me an answer to Devonshire Place. Not a word has come to me. He seemed to think the demand was small for any book of the kind & that the expense wd be a hundred pounds. Still, I dont despair, absolutely. Tell the author so with my true love. Oh Robert, Robert!—not a moment.
Your ever affecte—
Ba.
Address, in RB’s hand: France. A Mademoiselle / Madlle Browning, / 151. Rue de Grenelle, Faubourg St Germain, / Paris.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
1. EBB probably has in mind the title of an Isaac Watts poem, “Submission to afflictive providences” in Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1707). The expression “afflictive providences” was first used in John Flavell (also Flavel), Divine Conduct; or, the Mysterie of Providence (1677), p. 111.
2. Nisbet & Co., publisher of evangelical works, was founded by James Nisbet (1785–1854). The firm’s premises at 21 Berners Street were less than a mile southeast of Devonshire Place. EBB was trying to find a publisher for RB, Sr.’s manuscript “The Nomenclator” (see letter 3652, notes 2 and 3).
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