4151. EBB to Clotilda Elizabeth Stisted
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 77–78.
Casa Guidi–
[28] March [1858] [1]
I will answer your note as well as I can, my dear Mrs Stisted– Mr Lytton has left Tuscany—but when he went away a fortnight or three weeks ago, he was not as strong as was desireable, though no longer an invalid as in the Lucca days of last year– Miss Blagden lives still at the beautiful villa of Bellosguardo, & her friend Miss Bracken with her– The Englishwoman’s Journal has passed away, with so much of the same kind of flock– There is a monthly magazine attempted, I believe, in its place, [2] but I know nothing of it, except that the object of both publications was to express extreme views on the rights & destinies of women. I dare say the editress would examine any papers of yours if you sent them to London,—only, as I know nothing myself of her needs & requirements, I cannot guess even at the probability of their being accepted & printed– I do wish I could give you a better satisfaction–
Mrs Jameson has written from Naples, where she seems to be hospitably entertained & a good deal amused—so much so, that she does’nt regret us, poor Florentines, the least in the world. The Hedleys have been in Paris this last winter—(did I tell you that?) & are all very well– When I say “the Hedleys,” I mean my aunt & uncle, & unmarried cousins– [3] But people tell me that Paris has not done its duty in enchanting them as much as usual this time, & that they are preparing to return to England with a proper inclination of patriotism– For ourselves, we are certainly not so inclined. Our plans for the summer however are by no means made up.
I have had a letter from Jerusalem from dear Mrs Eckley– The desert a good deal exhausted her, & she does not urge me to follow her footsteps through the sands. But they were all in good health, & very much interested & charmed of course.
My husband & my Penini are quite well, thank you– How glad I am that you should, all of you, have passed so triumphantly through this trying winter. Now & here it is spring, with a summer sun for vehemence,—so that we have almost forgotten our misfortunes of extraordinary cold–
With my husband’s cordial regards to you all, in which I join, let me remain Dear Mrs Stisted,
affectely yours Eliz B Browning.
Address: à Madame / Madame Stisted / Bagni di Lucca.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Day and year provided by postmark.
2. The English Woman’s Journal (see letter 4130, note 20) was a successor to The Waverly Journal, a fortnightly Edinburgh magazine, which Bessie Parkes and Matilda Hays ran from London before it failed in early 1858.
3. EBB probably refers to the three youngest Hedley girls, all of whom were unmarried at this time: Elizabeth (“Ibbit”) Jane (1834–1909), Frances (1836–1914), and Anna (b. 1840). Their brother George Lake Hedley was also unmarried, but he was serving as a lieutenant in the 94th Regiment of Foot.
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