4452. RB to William Wetmore Story
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 229–230.
[Florence]
[26 July 1859] [1]
My dear Story,
My wife has been so ill, and the calls on my time so incessant that I was unable to tell you—what would have pleased you to know two days earlier—that I have had a very satisfactory letter from Forster– Kind and conclusive—he will make every effort to help poor Landor and entertains no doubt of being able to do so effectually—he energetically bids me hold himself responsible for all expense, insists on Landor[’]s finding every comfort, an attendant, and other assistance I will tell you about when we meet—but adds that he is sure there will be no need of any such effort on the part of any friend, as the brothers of Landor, [2] with whom he will put himself in immediate communication, are “most noble, honorable gentlemen, and wealthy to-boot—& will never bear indignity to their family’s Head”– They have all been under the delusion that the Fiesole people used the greatest kindness to our poor friend, spared no effort to make him at his ease &c &c– The greatest inconvenience is, that Mr Walter Landor of Rugel[e]y, [3] the cousin-agent is seriously ill, dying in fact—and this may a little retard matters—but that eventually a satisfactory arrangement will be made, we need not doubt—& meantime he, & other friends just as zealous, will gladly take all the engagements that may be necessary.
I have communicated so much of this as seemed needful to Landor, beseeching him to “possess his soul in peace & quietness” [4] —as your goodness to him, indeed, makes a very easy matter.
And now, dear Story—the moment my wife can be moved to Siena we shall take the journey: but, as there is a stop in our negotiation about the “Bargagli,” let me profit by it to beg dear Mrs Story will let us know, before we decide on taking it, what I overlooked in my usual stupid way for the grounds and groves and other external beauties—my wife is tenacious of a ground floor—no stairs to ascend: now, which of the three at our discretion is the stairless villa? I am able to satisfy her about the coolness and picturesqueness of situation—but I forget all the rest. Can you help us again without finding the bore too exorbitant? We thank you most heartily for all your goodness but if we arrive uncertain as to the villa we take, we will proceed at once to the inn which we have good experience of. [5] I will write again on receipt of the letter I venture to expect: I will buy the ink & attend to the other desires.
Yours affectionately RB
My wife[’]s truest thanks & love, and prayers to be excused (for this heap of trouble.)
Publication: BAF, pp. 44–45.
Manuscript: University of Texas.
1. Date provided by RB’s mentioning in letter 4454 that he had written “the day before yesterday.”
2. Henry Eyres Landor (1780–1866), of Tachbrook, Warwickshire; and Robert Eyres Landor (1781–1869), of Burlingham, Worcestershire (see letter 2599, note 2).
3. Landor’s first cousin, once removed, Walter Landor (1782–1864), of Rugeley, Staffordshire, served as the Landor family’s attorney and, along with his son Robert, was a trustee of Walter Savage Landor’s estates.
4. From the testimony of Simon Episcopius (1583–1643), Dutch theologian, before the Synod of Dort, which convicted him of heresy and banished him (Frederick Calder, Memoirs of Simon Episcopius, The Celebrated Pupil of Arminus, 1838, p. 323.)
5. The Aquila Nera, recommended as the second best of two hotels at Siena in Murray’s A Handbook for Travellers in Central Italy (1857): “Aquila Nera, also good, but in a more remote situation, but nearer the Cathedral and other sights” (part I, p. 183). The Brownings and Eckleys stayed there in late May on their way to Florence from Rome.
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