4584. Alexander Munro to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 27, 151–152.
6 Up. Belgrave Place S.W.
27th Jany 1860
My dear Mrs Browning
I hope yourself and Mr Browning may think none the worse of me for not earlier thanking you for your welcome letters– [1] I am very very glad you both like the Marble as seen by the little photographs; larger & better ones, I trust, will be got the first clear day of the coming Spring—these small ones being but halves of Stereographs.
The Sun, this Winter, has been more than usually careful to hide the light of his countenance from us [2] in London and till the dreary dark days end, no photographic picturing may be taken: nevertheless I shall send copies of those you have, to Paris as you wish– I hope to procure them in a day or two, the photographer being in the Country now—and I myself have but lately come to London, or I should have sent them before now. When I get larger ones taken I shall send copies to Miss Barrett as I so promised last Summer.
Any or every Friend you may wish to see the Bust, can at any time and as often as they like, do so—, whether or not I may be at home—as there is always some one in my study or house: though there is little likelihood of my being away for a day even—till July—for I now have to be very busy with some things which I am hopeful may interest you some day when you see them– How I wish you were coming here this Year! all the sooner I might behold Penini’s riding achievements! and I do hope I shall before the end of this Year even if you do not come to England this Summer, for I long to see Florence & Rome again—& not the least joyful expectation of going, will be finding you at one or other place and being permitted I trust to see you as frequently as in the days dear to my remembrance in November/58.—and Italy soon I hope, will have the Glory & Freedom you pray for—thanks to the clever Governor of France I think, though I am laughed at and abused for thinking so, here: where unfortunately next to “Free Trade” “Non Interference” is thought the highest pursuit of a Nation: but I hope that for the advancement of the World such limited Faith will soon give way to wiser and more liberal views of a Nation’s duty. Do you return to Florence in Summer? or go on to Naples & Sorrento—and thereafter we might have some of your “Memories plucked at Sorrento” [3] any where I hope health & strength will be yours to achieve what you both best like– I would wish all loving remembrances to Penini, and with kindest regards to his dear parents I am ever sincerely
Yours
Alex Munro.
Address: Mrs Robert Browning– / 28 / Via del Tritone / Rome.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
2. Cf. Psalm 89:15.
3. Munro refers to RB’s “The Englishman in Italy,” first published as “England in Italy” in Dramatic Romances and Lyrics (1845). Munro’s quotation does not occur in the poem but reflects elements of it: lines 7–9 read: “Let me keep you amused till he [Scirocco] vanish / In black from the skies / With telling my memories over”; the subtitle, “Piano di Sorrento”; and with the verb “plucked,” the grape harvest, which figures prominently in the early part of the poem.
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