4496. RB to Sophia Landor
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 312–313.
Siena,
Septr 30. ’59.
Dear Miss Landor,
I fear you have wondered at my delay in answering your letter of the 15th current: it arose, indeed, from my hope of being able to send you the will duly filled up, signed, & attested—instead of an assurance that I will do so the moment we arrive in Florence. We intended to proceed thither to-morrow—but the continued heat of the weather (mitigated as it is from its excess of some weeks ago) induces us to stay a few days longer: we only decided on this to-day. I rather imagine that it will be better to obtain English witnesses—tho’ I am not quite sure on this point– I also wish to ascertain (in conformity with your desire) whether any particular formality is requisite to ensure the safe execution of such a will in Tuscany. I can only muster two American friends as witnesses [1] —I myself being, I suppose, incompetent to do duty both as Witness & Executor. It seemed therefore the wiser plan to wait till I could get full information and assistance. But I feel so strongly the necessity of getting the document properly attested, and safely placed in your hands, that I will lose no minute unnecessarily,—depend upon it. I have not mentioned the matter to your uncle—nor shall, until the day I may be able to terminate the whole business: such confidence do I place in his discretion and gentleness when these are appealed to in a kind spirit. It is better, however, to keep such a matter from dwelling on his mind. For the Executorship—I can only say that if you will content yourself with my very moderate ability, it is put cheerfully at your disposal. Your sympathy with—& kind construction of—all I do, make the acceptance of such a charge easier than it would otherwise be.
You will therefore hear from me again in about a week’s time. My address is—Casa Guidi, Via Maggio, Florence. Letters to your uncle will be safelier addressed to my care than to the Office.
I have said no word about your re-iterated goodness expressed in terms which I am as grateful for as if I deserved them.
Your uncle is quite well, quite happy and undisturbed, to all appearance. He takes sufficient exercise and is much stronger than when he arrived here. He is most gentle and affectionate—his spirits also are excellent. We have succeeded in finding him a proper appartment in Florence [2] —but I reserve particulars for my next letter: it is late—& I shall only add that I thank you for your kind congratulations on my wife’s recovery—which is confirmed—and that I am ever
Dear Miss Landor,
Yours faithfully,
Robert Browning.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Yale University.
1. Presumably William Wetmore Story and Hamilton Gibbs Wild (see letter 4499, note 2). For English witnesses, RB turned to Seymour Kirkup and Edward Burne-Jones (see letter from RB to Sophia Landor, 12 October 1859, ms at Yale).
2. At 2671 Via Nunziatina (now Via della Chiesa), just behind the church and monastery of the Carmine, a short distance from Casa Guidi.
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