4159. EBB to Euphrasia Fanny Haworth
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 87–88.
[Florence]
[ca. 6 April 1858] [1]
I am delighted to hear, my dearest Fanny, that you are getting on so well. Who knows that this illness may not be a new spring of life to you,—a turning point for the headaches– Meazles often present such a turning point for children—and we are reasonable in having a hope.
When you are able to think of such things, here is Mr Stuart about to give lectures “on the influence of Italian poetical literature on English poetry”– They will be interesting I dare say. Fifteen pauls, the whole course of eight. Ask your doctor when the communicable stage shall be past—an interesting question for me, who long & yet fear, to have sight of you–
Just as I thought about Hume. Of course. It is contradicted that he was at Lyons. It was only some Legerdemain man called Lambert, who had the coolness to present himself under Hume’s name, [2] & fasten his ‘affiches’ [3] to every permitted wall– I hope we shall have the real Hume in Florence before this month ends, though I, of course, shall not personally be the better for him—in spite of nux. By the way Robert was ’ware of a cold coming yesterday, which he stopped on the way by globules of arsenica. He is so perfectly converted that he is considering how to buy a medecine-chest. Think of that miracle. His conversion ranks next to St Paul’s, [4] —to say the least of it–
I was out in the carriage yesterday for an hour, & I hope presently to be able to crawl about with a certain vivacity– As it is, I am wretched, as to strength–
Dearest Fanny, dont be in haste about getting out, .. because a colpo d’aria [5] might throw you back, and I have always understood that the susceptibility to cold after meazles was great. Ferdinando says something about jelly which “cant be finished till tomorrow”– Tomorrow you have it of course—& in the meantime, please me by ordering anything which can be prepared in quicker time. My thoughts & love are with you–
Ba
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. Dated by EBB’s reference to Stuart’s lectures, which probably began on 7 April, and to a homœopathic medicine chest, which RB bought on 10 April (see letter 4162, note 6).
2. An item in The Morning Advertiser for 3 April 1858 confirms EBB’s report: “The Lyons people have very nearly been the victims of a mystification in consequence of large broadsheets having announced an exhibition of spiritual magnetism by M. Hume [sic]. … One of the Lyons journals, however, having affirmed that the Mr. Hume was at present in Rome, a disquisition arose on the subject of the new comer, from which it results, first, that the person at Lyons has assumed the appellation of Hume as a good travelling name, his real name being Lambert, and next, that the director has refused to give him the theatre for his performance, as originally intended” (p. 5). We are unable to provide any further identification of Lambert.
3. “Posters.”
4. See Acts 9:1–20.
5. “Draft.”
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