3869. EBB to Anna Brownell Jameson
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 68–69.
Taunton.
Saturday. [27 September 1856] [1]
My dearest Moña Nina your following letter made me desperate for you. Again you go to Devonshire Place & find an absence instead of a presence!– Trouble in vain on your side, & loss on our’s! See how we wander about the world round & round,—for we came here literally round the world, from the isle of Wight round by Bristol.! We stayed over a fortnight at dear Mr Kenyon’s, & had the comfort of leaving him better, easier decidedly. Then, Robert had the goodness to give ear to the cries [2] of my sister Henrietta, & remove here for a week’s visit. She could not go to London, and I hated to leave England without seeing her. She has three very nice children, the youngest being an enormous baby of five months .. his face as large as Penini’s. Peni fraternizes with zeal, & thinks it delightful to have brothers & sisters.
Dear Mr Kenyon’s medical man [3] says he will recover to a certain point, & with care last a long time,—though of course, added he, ‘to make an old man young is not possible’– Our visit was deeply saddened by the sight of this beloved friend’s suffering—only, towards the end, he was relieved by the medecines, & talked almost like himself those two last days. To be with him, was sad—to leave him, sadder. Still, I have hope.
How sorry you will have been for poor Mdme Braun. Called from sleep by a telegraphic despatch announcing the dangerous illness of her husband,—& met at Marseilles by the news of his death! He died of gastric fever. We were expecting her at Cowes when all these sorrows broke on us, in the echo–
Dearest friend, I am glad almost that our separation has hindered your having the proofs. The poem ought not to be read by bits,—& I would fain strive for the right of presenting it to you in the more advantageous way– You shall see it if you please, before publication[.] The printing is not finished yet—but I must be within six proofs of the end. May you like it!– Oh, how I long for you to like it. Robert continues to keep up my heart in a measure—but really I am nervous about the receptiveness of the poem.
We shall be in London on tuesday next—at Devonshire Place, that is. Robert’s love–
Your loving
Ba–
Address: Mrs Jameson / Ealing / near London.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Date provided by London postmark of 28 September 1856, a Sunday.
2. Cf. Psalm 39:12.
3. Dr. Hoffmeister; see letter 3866, note 3.
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