4038. RB to Edward Chapman
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 24, 129–130.
Bagni di Lucca,
Sepr 1. ’57.
Dear Chapman,
Many thanks for your note & the accounts [1] —which, I agree with you in thinking very tolerable. I shall draw on you for part or the whole of the money one of these days—giving you due notice—indeed, I will draw on you for £12, now, as a convenience to a servant of ours who wants to transmit so much to her family. So please, whenever my order is presented, pay so much to “Ellen Wilson, [2] on account of Elizabeth Romagnoli.”
I dare say you will have heard from Forster, that poor Lytton, who came here a month ago was at once attacked by a gastric fever, laid in bed for three weeks & more, and then released in a sadly reduced condition: he goes out now, but is carried up & down stairs: he was forbidden to receive letters, or, at least, be troubled with reading them: it is much on his mind that he has been utterly unable to attend to his “packet,” which you refer to; & you will be sorry for the reason, now you know it. All your books came safe, and you send the “Athenæum” most satisfactorily. We have a delightful time of it here—everything green & cool. My wife is regaining strength– Please send the enclosed [3] —“They have paid”!—like good fellows, tho’ the delay looked ominous: but as to delay, why .. there are all sorts of excuses at hand, eh? So no more at present from yours very faithfully
Robert Browning.
P.S/ I don’t understand what I ought to do in way of stamping the order for the £12—to be on the safe side, I shall write a bit of a note and ask you to give E. Wilson that sum. Will that not do?
Publication: NL, pp. 102–103.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. Received on 27 August, as indicated in letter 4034, where EBB reports on the note’s contents.
2. Ellen Wilson (b. 1828) of Carrol Gate, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, was Wilson’s youngest sister. Presumably, the funds were to assist in the maintenance of the Romagnolis’ son, Orestes, left in the care of Wilson’s family.
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