4044. EBB to Euphrasia Fanny Haworth
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 24, 136–137.
La Villa– Bagni di Lucca.
Sept 14. [1857] [1]
My dearest Fanny, a letter from me will have crossed yours & told you of all our misadventures– It has been a summer to me full of blots, .. vexations, anxieties,—and if in spite of everything I am physically stronger for the fresh air & smell of green leaves,—that’s a proof that soul & body are two. [2]
Our friends of the hotel went away last saturday, & I have a letter from Isa Blagden with a good account of Lytton. He goes back to Villa Bricchieri where they are to house together, unless Sir Edward comes down (which he may do) to catch up his son & change the plan. Isa has not quite killed herself with nursing him,—a little of her being still left to express what has been.
Now, dear Fanny, I am going to try to tell you of our plans. No—‘plans’ is not the word—our thoughts are in the purely elemental state so far. But we think of going to Rome (or Naples) at the far end of november, & of staying here as many days deep into october meanwhile, as the cold mountain air will let us. On leaving this place we go to Florence & wait. Unless indeed, (which is possible too) we go to Ægypt & the Holy Land—in which case we shall not remain where we are, beyond the end of september.
For you .. I will advise only this– Do not go to Rome till november– September is a dangerous month. If your sister [3] should arrive to travel with you, it will be very pleasant– I cant be “kind,” and “give you a wind,” [4] to blow you over the Alps, but you will probably get a witch to do it somehow.
I never could consent to receive my theology, or any other species of guidance in fact, from the “spirits,” so called. I have no more confidence, apart from my own conscience & discretionary selection, in spirits out of the body, [5] than in those embodied. The submission of the whole mind & judgment carries you in either case to the pope .. or to the devil. So I think– Dont let them bind you hand & foot– Resist– Be yourself. Also, where (as in the medium-writing) you have the human mixture to evolve the spiritual sentiment from, the insecurity becomes doubly insecure.
On what pretext are there no physical manifestations? Why, for instance, if you doubt, & call for a physical manifestation, are you denied, more at Geneva than in Paris? I dont see why it should be– Through Hume the whole spiritual form is given– Sometimes it stands like a cloud, sometimes with distinct features.
I feel a little uncomfortable about you altogether. By your telling me however to direct ‘poste restante,’ I hope you have at least left Maison Fazy. [6] Write & tell me more– In great haste
Your ever affectionate
Ba–
Address: À Mademoiselle / Mademoiselle Fanny Haworth / Poste Restante / Gêneve– / La Suisse.
Publication: LEBB, II, 272–273 (in part).
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. Year provided by postmark.
2. EBB may have in mind Aristotle’s statement: “One need no more ask whether body and soul are one than whether the wax and the impression it receives are one” (On the Soul, II, 1, 412b, trans. W.S. Hett).
3. Julia Meikleham (née Haworth, 1807–70), third daughter (of four) and fourth child (of nine) of Thomas Haworth and his wife, Euphrasia. She married William Meikleham in 1828. The other sisters were Emily (1804–37) and Caroline (1814–15).
4. Cf. Macbeth, I, 3, 11.
5. Cf. II Corinthians 12:2.
6. Where EBB had sent letter 4015. Maison Fazy is listed under Fanny Haworth in the Brownings’ address book of this period; see Appendix IV.
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