4089. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 24, 203–205.
[Florence]
[Postmark: 5 November 1857]
My dearest Sarianna, there is not indeed much news to tell you—and if Robert did not write when he should have done a few days ago, it is perhaps that he waited instinctively for some touches of colour in his life. That he was stirred up to go with Isa (and Peni) to the play, must count rather as an event with us—a sort of emeute [1] in our dead calm. Not that I ever complain of calm. In fact I have been quite enjoying & feeling myself refreshed in the body, for, this pleasant repose, after anxieties & vexations & sadnesses which have disturbed more than six months to me. I feel as if repose must be my idea of uttermost happiness for the future—such a heavy, heavy summer this has been. Now it’s all quiet– Our precious child is brilliant with health & vivacity—not a curl of his head touched, dear angel! and astonishing everybody with his progress in music: and my letters from England scarify me less .. (or perhaps I get used to them–)– Still, I shut my eyes tight .. (as the dear nonno does at anything horrible ..) to think of ever finding myself again at the other side of the channel—we shall see. My patriotism has been hammered out of me with sledge-hammers … if indeed it is out of me. When we go to Paris in the spring, I shall make desperate efforts to get Arabel or any other person belonging to me who cares the least bit to see me, to come to France——.. But all this is pure lunacy of dreaming,—dreading.
Tell dear M. Milsand how tenderly we feel his affectionate way of thinking of little Penini– It is true too—and he loses none of his grace. Mrs Jameson (who is sparing of compliments about the child) observed the other day that he really looked like an angel at the piano, with his entranced blue eyes thrown upwards to the book, & his golden hair waving.
I have the most desponding letters from poor Fanny Haworth, who on her return southwards (she was going to Naples by sea) was held tight at Milan by illness, & kept from moving afterwards by the floods. She reached Venice, & wrote to Robert to make the banker send her money for Heaven’s sake, otherwise she was lost! She would take Florence on her road to Rome—but this was the last stroke, .. she was cured for ever of her love of travelling. In fact Italy does not agree with her—there’s the truth. She has been quite well in Switzerland comparatively speaking,—and it was unwise to determine to “see Naples and die” .. in consequence! Also, moving about is the most expensive of amusements. Robert swears that going to the Bagni for those little more than two months, cost us a hundred pounds– The money slips through one’s fingers so. Did he tell you that we were as near as possible going to Ægypt & the Holy Land, however, this winter, in spite of what we should infallibly have paid for that “whistle”– Only Peni took away the rest of my courage for it .. (and I was not over-courageous before!) I did not dare to expose him, after his fever, to the risks of climate & diet– At Rome, if we go, we shall remain only during the healthy months, & return here early in the spring– But Peni had at Lucca the very fever of which Joe Story died at Rome: & there has been much ill-health throughout Tuscany this year.
You cant fancy what pleasure it gives me to hear of dear nonno’s liking Paris better than he seemed to do when we two talked together last, & I thought him so depressed & land-sick .. country-sick, I mean– I think your rooms must look very pretty & complete, with the books & the pictures– The Sandfords are in Paris—& Jane Sandford bids me to ask you to call upon her .. Champs Elysées—69.
Did you ever hear of Miss Blackett, whom we knew in Paris—the sister of the member of parliament? [2] She has married a Frenchman, [3] (& congratulates herself everyday, she says) & they have come here for three months on their way to Rome for the wedding-tour– Poor Florence is hardly judged by her– “Never such a dismal place seen! So gloomy, so scarcely possible to get through the three months in it!” So she paints away the time. They are to live in Paris. She is a very clever person, of the most advanced school of liberalism, and has married a rigid Catholic & Legitimist– She tells me that he bears with her much better than she bears with him—which is really a confession.
Mrs Newton Crosland too is here for three weeks, on the road to Rome. So astonished I was to see her. She comes in the capacity of chaperone to a young lady too young to travel alone, &, I rather think, rich enough to pay the expenses of a whole party: and they are to be absent from England six months in all– Of course Mrs Crosland leaves her husband [4] behind her. Also she has taken an engagement “never to speak of the spirits to her charge.” Which argues the charge to be much under-age I think.
Robert has been only twice out riding since our return—but he is very well,—drawing indefatigably, .. so indefatigably that he seems to me rather cooling about going to Rome– In which case, we shall stay of course. A little quiet would do more for me than Rome would, I do believe, and as it wont be I, who gives the signal for moving. Then the expenses might be found inconveniencing– Still, we continue to talk of Rome or Naples.
Poor Wilson is not confined yet, nor has let her house. Annunciata suits us excellently. May God bless both of you–
Dearest Sarianna’s ever affectionate Ba
The subject of India is terrible, whatever way is decided. [5]
Is it not likely that the Corkrans may be sent back again. What can he do as well as conduct a correspondence from Paris? We know nothing of poor Jessie. Less here than elsewhere is to be known. I am anxious about her but not fearful for her. [6]
Address, in RB’s hand: France. / Mademoiselle Browning, / 151. Rue de Grenelle, Faubourg St Germ. / Paris.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
1. “Uprising.”
2. John Fenwick Burgoyne Blackett (1821–56) was M.P. for Newcastle-on-Tyne until his death the previous year.
3. Frances Mary Blackett (1822–95), daughter of Christopher Blackett (1787–1847), of Wylam, Northumberland, and his wife, Elizabeth (née Burgoyne, 1781–1833), was married to Gaston Felix Henri du Quaire (1833–60), third son of Count Claude du Quaire, at London on 31 August 1857. The Du Quaires had been in Florence since at least 13 October 1857. M. Du Quaire, styling himself “Vicomte du Quaire,” is listed in the subscription records of Vieusseux’s reading rooms for that date at 4280 Via della Scala.
4. Newton Crosland (1819–79), a London wine merchant with an interest in spiritualism.
5. A further reference to the Sepoy Rebellion (see letter 4026, note 3).
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