4527. Walter Savage Landor to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 27, 46–47.
[Florence]
[26 November 1859] [1]
My dear kind friend,
Never could I have imagined that my few books would be withheld from me, after I had given to my family all I possessed, with the house, pictures and furniture. The two copybooks, filled with my writing, which you and all my friends think of value to the public, were left by me in the table drawer, with pencil, and two small memorandum-books &c– My brothers know all the particulars which drove me a third time from the villa– My son Arnold will not deny the fact about the 150£, which his sister undertook to deposit for me at Townleys, [2] but which, contrary to my express directions, she placed out at interest, in her own name; and this she did not deny. After some difficulty her brother got the money from her– After several weeks I found that it was two bank of England five-pound notes that were abstracted from my writing-desk. Miss L. had the key, and she only– On my return from England, I could not find mine—but, having changed my waistcoat, I recollected this, and found it again. She produced one, and unlocked the desk when it came first. She hurried out of the room without a word to me on the day when the notes were abstracted– I have [sent] particulars to my nieces– [3] My brothers will know all about the detention of the books, and the eight causes of other griefs which I wrote to my son. My brothers will act accordingly. I know their sentiments, which may be very influential in what concerns the family.
Ever yours W. S L.
Address: R. Browning Esq.
Docket, on envelope, in RB’s hand: Domestic / Miserable.
Publication: BBIS-5, p. 38 (without assigned date).
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Dated by RB’s quotation from this letter in letter 4528.
2. In Murray’s Handbook of Florence and Its Environs (1861), Townley is listed under “Grocers” at Piazza degli Antinori and is described as “well supplied in wines, tea, sugar, and all English articles” (pp. vii–viii).
3. Sophia Landor and Catherine Landor; see letter 4214, note 3.
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