4430. William Johnson Fox to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 190–191.
[London]
June 17/59
Dear Mrs Browning–
I trust our new Ministry, [1] if as announced this morning, will have a good effect both in the behaviour of English in Italy, & on the Italian mind. By refusing to serve under any Premier, except his great rival Lord Palmerston, we are secured by Lord Jno Russell against the Germanic tendencies wh might have characterized a Granville Ministry. [2] And tho’ I have still my fears as to the reverential way in wh that Devil’s book, the Treaties of 1815, is referred to, yet we are tolerably sure of a real neutrality, with Italian sympathies—& with that, we must be content. Both the Peelite & Commercial Elements of the new Ministry are pledges against our Interference.
Mrs Jameson is right in describing those people as only a “Clique.” The great general feeling is decidedly with France & Italy, &, might be roused into something warmer than the cry of Neutrality, were it not for considerations of Policy, combined with a lurking distrust, wh is fast giving way, of your Hero. We have too many French refugees amongst us to be entirely oblivious as to him; & they are greatly aided by Mazzini & his Italians. But he is so deeply pledged, in the face of Europe, to a disinterested Policy that all suspicion has greatly abated. The clique only avows its feeling incidentally, & by implication. It has Court favour, & Albertine influence. [3] Beyond that, the single hold it has on the Country is the Bovine notion that Agricultural Produce wd go up in price if we were at War. The Rifle Corps movement is partly factitious, & partly prudential. It is in some degree a trick to form a Middle Class National Guard, in the event of a great increase of Political Power to the Operative classes.
There is, I hear, a beautiful bust of Penini (my love to him, if he has any memory of me) by Munroe in the Exhibition, wh I have not been able to see yet, but will soon. It is stupidly dated 1848 in the Catalogue, wh puzzles folks in his Chronology. [4] By the way, I like Tottie’s sketch of you, wh tho’ not an adequate representation, as what can be? yet pleasantly helps me to realize your presence—& when will you & R give England that indulgence again? I have taken no such walks since you were here, nor shall, till there is the renewed temptation of coming to yr abode. Bridelle [sic] has undergone a painful operation, & is getting to his work again, & he & Tottie, who are very happy, talk of Italy for next year, when I trust they will find every Scene pictorially improved in the atmosphere of freedom & independence.
Tell R, with my affectionate regards, that I am looking for more “Men & Women”, or the renovated Sordello; both promises—thank you both for very many kindnesses to my daughter–
Ever your affectionately
W. J. Fox
Address: Mrs R Browning / Casa Guidi / (Florence) / Firenze / Tuscany.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
2. Fox refers to Granville George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville (1815–91), “leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Lords” (ODNB).
3. i.e., of Prince Albert, who was naturally disposed to Germanic interests.
4. At the Royal Academy exhibition of 1859, Alexander Munro’s bust of Pen was entitled “Robert Wiedeman Barrett Browning, Florence, 1848.” The year should have read “1858.”
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