4466. RB to Sophia Landor
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 248–250.
Siena,
Aug. 11. ’59.
Dear Miss Landor,
I am very sensible of the honor you do me & grateful for the confidence shown me by Mr Landor’s Relatives in England. I can understand only too well all that you particularize of an unhappy, misdirected career. One’s business at present seems confined to doing one’s best to avert or soften circumstances which are the natural effects of what is long ago irretrievable. I fear Mr Landor can never be trusted to live a quarter of an hour without supervision—which, to answer any purpose of good to him, ought to be disguised in at least the appearance of affection & civility. I despair of his finding these at home—not from his own statements which I was disposed to hope exaggerated—but from my own observation. At any rate, he will not return to his Family unless they use violence to oblige him, and he has now been more than a month dependent on the sympathy of comparative strangers: I ought to apprise you that I had not seen Mr Landor more than half a dozen times in the course of four times that number of years till he came to me in his extremity. Of course, in common with everybody I have always appreciated his genius and generosity, with whatever alloy they may have been united.
The only course to be taken is the following, I believe. Whatever means of life are extended to Mr Landor by his Relatives, should be held in trust for him by a friend; nothing must be left in his own hands: nor should he be even acquainted with the exact amount of what is available, or it will be impossible to repress the sudden fantastic projects of removal, unseasonable fits of beneficence, & the like, to which he is subject. He requires constant guardianship in the disguise of prompt kind service. I have established him in a lodging hardly a stone’s cast from the Villa wherein I & my family reside till the end of September; I see him several times a day, and believe that his misconceptions and irritabilities may be disposed of by the treatment I should be happy to continue personally. But I have other claims on me which are imperative; nor can I engage to spend the winter in Florence: this however I propose to do,—subject to the approbation of Mr Landor’s Relatives—I will receive what they desire to be appropriated to his comforts. I will endeavour to lodge him close to my house in Florence as economically as possible, and to induce a valued servant of ours—of whose probity, gentleness and other good qualities my wife & myself have had fourteen years’ experience—to devote herself exclusively to his care. He is himself pressing me to carry this plan into effect. Should I leave Florence for a few months, I could trust her absolutely with him: her husband is still in my service and has long been proved trustworthy. I will associate myself with Mr L’s old friend Kirkup in all I do, and a detailed account of expenses, [1] verified by him, shall be transmitted to England once a quarter. Should there be a surplus on the quarter’s receipts, I will deposit it with my Banker, Philipson, [2] who allows 3 per cent interest in such a case,—so constituting a fund against sickness or other emergency. I cannot deny that I feel the responsability [sic] of engaging to do this—but poor Mr Landor has been, in a manner, laid at my door, and I will not refuse to do my best in such a case. I feel moreover that I may count at least on your kindly doing justice—and perhaps more—to my endeavours—even should circumstances beyond my control render them ineffectual. Let us hope, however.
Mr Landor transmits the enclosed note—so characteristic of all that you observe on in his past proceedings! I succeeded in making him understand your intention, after some trouble.
Pray believe me,
Dear Miss Landor,
Yours very faithfully,
Robert Browning.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Yale University.
1. See Appendix IV.
2. Abramo Philipson (see letter 2751, note 8).
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