3875. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 77–78.
[London]
[Postmark: 6 October 1856]
My dearest Sarianna, as usual, only a minute comes to my share for writing this. Robert must send his letter, he says; and I am fairly ground down by so much work. We are seeing the light however, and in a fortnight I do hope we shall have floated the book off our hands. Most happily, the weather is exceptionally mild. We have only the fog to complain of—and in fact, both yesterday & today we have let out the fire, in self-defense.
Robert leans much to Algiers, & I should not at all wonder if we went there actually. Certain objections there are—such as the expense of taking Ferdinando, which will be incumbent on us under the actual circumstances– Other reasons also, perhaps. But if Robert likes to go, it’s right he should go–
We are delighted with dear M. Milsand’s article. [1] What profound justice he does to Robert! justice, not only after my judgement but after my heart & instincts. I dont always agree with him however in his ideas.
May we see him, when we are in Paris!
I congratulate your father on the matter of his great discovery of the Junius– [2] It is very curious.
No note or other sign was found here from Nisbet. [3] I shall take a cab someday & go down to get his reply,—& our manuscript, in the case of a rejection. He did not give me much hope at the time but why does he delay?
Orestes is in London. A really pretty, interesting child & Ferdinando ‘appas[s]ionato’ [4] for him, & Penini (of course) in an equal state of fervour.
Best of loves to both of you.
Your attached Ba
Address, in RB’s hand: France / À Mademoiselle / Madlle Browning, / 151. Rue de Grenelle, Faubourg St Germn / Paris.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
1. His review of Men and Women in the 15 September 1856 issue of Revue Contemporaine et Athenæum. Among the many observations that Milsand makes on RB’s poetry, is the following: “I doubt that any poet ever exercised more completely both imaginations: that which sees in images and that which imagines or creates.” For the full text of this review, see pp. 379–406.
2. The pseudonym of the author of the political essays written between 1769 and 1772 that attacked the British government and its members, including George III. The authorship was a matter of intense speculation; at least forty candidates have been proposed at one time or another. For many years, the strongest candidate has been Sir Philip Francis (1740–1818), civil servant, politician, and political writer (see ODNB). The solving of the Junius puzzle was a lifelong ambition of RB, Sr., but we are unable to identify his “great discovery” mentioned here. Two essays by him on this subject are extant: one entitled “Characteristical Similarities and Striking Resemblances of Mr Wilkes in Junius,” which suggests that John Wilkes (1725–97) was the author (see Reconstruction, J66); and the other entitled “Junius,” which argues against the authorship of Francis (see Reconstruction, J83).
4. “Passionate.”
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