4735. EBB to George Goodin Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 28, 134–138.
Villa Alberti. Siena
[6] Sept. [1860] [1]
My beloved George I thank God and I thank you for this word of good– I take it with all the bitter. I had been in deep anxiety (to anguish) for three posts, during which I had calculated on hearing—now, the very coming of the letter is a good, & that she should be a shade better is a good—& the diminution of the pain, I do bless our God for!– The thought of that pain is the worst thought I have to bear– If anything here ever approaches with me to a pleasurable feeling .. if I look at the blue hills, or hear Penini’s musical chatter, or get news even of our triumphant Italy, .. instantly comes the idea … “My precious Henrietta is in great pain at this moment perhaps”– Be sure that, while I pass for being away from you all, I am with you in my soul, .. in my power of loving & suffering– Tell my precious sister this—that I am with her—with her—that I love her, not as much, but more than I ever did—& that I kiss her with an infinite tenderness, soul to soul, through this distance–
My dear dearest kindest George, I will obey you in everything as far as I can. Let the next person who writes tell me whether caustic is used in any form, and also whether any of the pain has been produced by the remedies– I want to know also whether the sickness recurs. My dearest George, I like to think of your being there—and Storm, too, our dear dear Storm– So he goes back to Bryngwyn this winter? What do you mean by Breconshire? [2] Has any place been found out in Breconshire, likely to suit him?– Could’nt Devonshire or Cornwall offer anything? I fancied they might—and the climate there is so much milder than in Wales.
The country about us has been considerably agitated by the extraordinary movement of troops during the last few days– A pouring in of the national battalions from the north, & a carrying on with them all the troops in Tuscany, so that we are left simply with the national guard belonging to each city– Matteucci (one of the deputation to Napoleon on behalf of Tuscany last october .. & a first rate man) lives in a villa near us– A telegram came to him the day before yesterday from Turin, to enquire whether a second telegraph wire (in case of accident to the first) could be extended across Italy in five days. It looked much like war with Austria. But Mdme Matteucci came to me yesterday to say that we had not reached that point yet.—though everything might be expected– The present destination of the troops is to the frontier, to be ready for contingencies .. especially for the intervention of Lamoriciere into the Neapolitan states, the consequence of which would be the intervention of Victor Emmanuel into the Papal. [3] Also, we shall occupy Naples, as soon as that government falls– The Mazzinians are an insignificant party, but rampant for mischief—and to keep the national body a-head of all political sects is important to the health of the state. It is a moment of crisis, Garibaldi is a hero, & great is his work, yes, and single is his aim in doing it– But, with all that, he is too easily influenced, & is too much surrounded with evil influences, for any of us who know the circumstances, to rest in him without anxiety. Observe. He will never be persuaded into a bad action– But into an action, the political consequences of which would be bad, he is capable of being persuaded—and for this reason, we fear sometimes.
I hope there will not be much more fighting in the Neapolitan States—therefore your volunteers are late– But they will be in time for the struggle with Lamoriciere, which sooner or later must be– The Neapolitans are not in a mind to fight— Marines & army dissolve before the patriots happily. [4]
Mdme Matteucci gave me a most interesting account of the conversation between LN. & the Tuscan deputation .. Prince Corsini, Matteucci & Peruzzi .. about annexation & the restoration of the Gr Duke, last October. [5] It lasted an hour & a quarter, & she waited in the carriage during that time– I can assure you my “August Voice” represents the significance of it— The emperor said, he was bound at Villafranca & could give no other advice than &c &c– Also, he seemed seriously to think with regard to annexation that there were difficulties in the traditions of the country—(a great many Italians thought the same till quite the last moment)– He said, “why how will your members attend a Turin parliament? They will have to go by sea.” As to the Tuscan princes, .. he was humourous about them. “Vous pouvez concevoir,” [6] said he “that I cant feel much sympathy with these petty princes. I care simply for the happiness of Tuscany. Ferdinando [7] came to me here .. il a pleuré [8] .. he offered everything in the way of promise & profession– I replied .. “Mais, mon cher, vous etiez à Solferino –” [9]
When the emperor had repeatedly told the deputation that he was not free himself to say what they would have him say, he added, “that one thing I can promise you”—there shall be no intervention–” He repeated it with emphasis. Peruzzi, who is given to push, and force entrenchments, looked into the emperor’s face & said, “Mais, s’il n’y aura pas d’intervention, alors” [10] ..... (Then, then, we may do as we like, implied in the pause.) The emperor threw up his hands exclaiming .... “Oh, oh, oh!.” Meaning of course, “you must not force me to say what I will not.”
The meaning of it all, was clear. He could not protect the especial choice of the Italians before Europe, but he would protect the Italians choosing, before Europe. Because observe, .. his “No intervention,” was not like yours in England .... a mere opinion .. He was prepared to hinder intervention from Austria, with the sword– All Italy understood & understands this. “It has been a real love for Italy on the part of the emperor,” said Mdme Matteucci to me,—“quite a personal feeling”. And at the end of twenty months, see what the effect is– Italy is a nation .. almost!——and there is almost a coalition of the old governments against France. I regard these facts with the mixture of wonder, scorn, & melancholy, which is the frequent mood of thinkers on this world’s affairs.
Whether you care to hear any of this I cant guess even—but little else moves in my life just now, except the private griefs heavy on you & all of us– I put down something, not to send you an echo of your own sadness .. & nothing is at hand but this– Peni has had a cold, & we were half fearful of fever—but he is convalescent this morning. Someone gave him an Illustrated News– He is enchanted with it––has a plan of “putting his shoulder to the wheel,” he says, “and buying it himself”– (For every successful lesson he is paid five centimes––a halfpenny.) He “knows the politics are wretched” .. (his own words). “Its too bad calling Napoleon a tyrant! Still, there’s a sympathy for Italy, and Garibaldi is called our hero;—And the pictures are certainly most beautiful.” So Peni has been discoursing to me just now, trying hard to wheedle me out .. of what he wont get– He is rather too much accustomed to have his fantasies pass into facts,—and this, as he gets older, will grow more expensive,—besides other objections. His abbé has gone to Rome—so that I hold the Latin & other lessons—except arithmetic & music, which Robert undertakes. I dont work him much just now,—& he’s pretty good. Peni is never naughty, understand, in the naughty sense—he’s only inattentive—which is a provoking kind of naughtiness, to be sure. You would be amused to hear him talk Italian politics—he traces Garibaldi’s advances step by step as the telegrams announce them .. & he has all the names of Italian leaders on the tip of his tongue– I cant help smiling sometimes. But it ruffled me a little when, on the abbé coming to take leave of me, Peni, who had been joining in the conversation, observed very gravely that “We should be obliged at last to put the Holy Father into the castle of St Angelo.” (speaking Italian of course–) I turned quickly to reprove him, but the Abbé with the most good humoured manner & smile said .. “I always tell you, Penini, that you are too little to talk so much about politics. No grown up man would say so of the Santo Padre—not even,” he added to me slyly, “if he thought so–” But the abbé, besides being very liberal, has certainly one of the sweetest tempers possible—and his presence & lessons are a great loss to Pen.
The weather has been very hot– Today it is cooler, indeed quite cool. Robert rides a great deal—for three or four hours together sometimes. We stay here till the tenth of October—so it was arranged at least.
Something was said about a governess for the dear children– Did the one thought of, answer? Are the children good, & not noisy?– Dear Surtees. Give him my true, sisterly love– How I feel with him & for him. May God help us & hold us all—for we need it indeed. Is Stone the first man? [11] Was there not another, famous in these special disorders? Mrs Cust [12] was kept in London for months– Oh George—you need not fear that my spirits go up too high– I suffer terrors sometimes. And, at all moments .. patience itself has the weight on my heart of a very heavy stone– I know too that these cases must be long—yes, at their best perhaps–
And if that is hard for us, what must it be for her in her pain—poor precious thing!– Oh—may God grant that that acute pain may not return– I think at moments there may be a turn in the case when we least expect it–
Remark George, that I have not even named my darlingest Arabel– Tell her that I hold her fast notwithstanding, & that she must do so by me. We want one another, just now. She is happier than I am in being where she is—& I ought to be satisfied with just that—only I keep worrying & teazing everybody just because I can do them no good–
As to you, George .. if you knew how I feel to you—but you dont– I hold you in true love & true honor too & all your words are dear to me– Our kind love to Occy & Charlotte—& a kiss to the babe. To all the children besides. Robert’s love to everyone of you with your attached Ba’s–
If I had not recd your letter yesterday, I could not today– Railroads all occupied by troops– No passage for anybody, or for newspaper or letter. It is said that we are to have fighting directly—but there’s mystery– May God save Italy.
Address: Angleterre viâ France / George G. Moulton Barrett Esqre / Stoke Court / Taunton / Somersetshire.
Publication: B-GB, pp. 235–240.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. “Sept. 6.” is written in EBB’s hand on the envelope; the year is provided by the postmark.
2. Or Brecknockshire, former Welsh county, most of which, since 1974, lies within the county of Powys.
3. Piedmont was preparing to invade the Papal States of Umbria and The Marches. On the same day that Garibaldi entered Naples (7 September), Cavour issued an ultimatum to Pius IX demanding the withdrawal of foreign troops from the Papal States. These troops, under the command of Lamoricière, had been sent in to quell local uprisings, some of which had been fomented by Cavour’s agents. The Pope’s reply (a refusal) did not reach Turin until 13 September (see Denis Mack Smith, Cavour, New York, 1985, p. 224), but by then the Piedmontese army had crossed the frontiers (see letter 4738, note 6). Cavour’s ultimatum hid Piedmont’s real motive for the invasion: to reach Naples and prevent Garibaldi from marching on Rome.
6. “You can conceive.”
7. Ferdinand IV (1835–1908), Grand Duke Leopold II’s eldest son and successor.
8. “He cried.”
9. “But, my dear, you were at Solferino.” Ferdinand fought on the Austrian side at the Battle of Solferino.
10. “But, if there will not be intervention, then …”
12. Sarah Jane Cust (née Cookson, formerly Streatfeild, 1821–67); see vol. 18, pp. 353–356.
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