4541. Walter Savage Landor to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 27, 73–74.
[Florence]
[Postmark: 9 December 1859]
My incomparable friend,
On my return from a visit to the Eckleys I find your letter, and lose not an hour in thanking you for it. I was well aware that your attempts to procure the pictures and books, which were promist me, would be fruitless. It is hardly worth while to write again to such breakers of promise. If you do, let it be only that I have written to my brothers and nieces, recounting the ill treatment I have received, and this last act of dishonesty.
You have relieved me from greater anxiety than any vile conduct of my family can now occasion me, by the good account of Mrs Browning’s health. Tell the Dragoon [1] that our crack regiments never force their chargers beyond 25 or 28 miles a day. We have enjoyed here the most beautiful weather, while in England there has been severe frost and snow. You have supplied me with everything I want for four entire months. My three pictures are framed, and lined, and paid for– I have several crowns left, and nobody to steal them out of my writing-desk—I regret the privation of Ainsworth’s Dictionary which I brought with me from England, and two copies of my Collected Works, [2] beside many other books. If in the bookcase at the Villa there are any which my son bought, let him justly detain them, but surely no person of common decency would take advantage of my utter helplessness to rob me of the little I possessed. I gave up to my family the value of many thousands, and they refuse me the little I reserved, not worth 20£– This among less privations has deprived me of my senses. I lie in bed seven or eight hours without a wink of sleep. I am a murdered man, altho not yet dead.
Mr Eckley and Mr Wilberforce [3] called on me yesterday—so did Kirkup, who sends his kind remembrances. I live in hopes that Mrs Browning will benefit by the warmer climate of Rome. It is somewhat to have reacht that city with so little inconvenience. Mr Story has written to me—pray offer my thanks to him, and tell him that Can Giallo scratcht my sleeve that I may not forget to send his love. He is a great blessing to me, and I often tell him so. I would rather possess him than the three Duchies, [4] even if the Emperor would let them be at rest, which he never will. The bear and the wolf have devoured the flesh of Italy, and will presently fight across the bones for the marrow. [5] Sardinia would not permit him [6] to rescue her– His object was what I know he could have performed. I wish I could give him my estates. 200£ a year is as much as I want—but surely next year I shall again recover all my property. I will think no more about it.
Ever yrs WSL
Address: R. Browning Esq / 28 Via del Tritone. 2 Piano / Roma.
Publication: BBIS-5, pp. 20–21 (as [12 December 1859]).
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Landor’s pet name for Pen.
2. The Works of Walter Savage Landor (2 vols., 1846), published by Moxon. It was reprinted in 1853, which edition the author presented to RB (see Reconstruction, A1416).
3. Edward Wilberforce (1834–1914); see letter 3982.
4. Tuscany, Parma, and Modena.
5. Cf. Landor’s letter to The Times (see letter 4538, note 1).
6. RB has interpolated “(Garibaldi)” above the line with a caret.
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