4755. EBB & RB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 28, 181–185.
| [In EBB’s hand] | [Siena] |
Wednesday & Thursday– [3–4 October 1860] [1]
Ever dearest Isa, you are an ever dearest Isa for writing– Dear, I have had a letter from Somersetshire, & my precious sister remains in the same state– Caustic has never been used or recommended—nothing except soothing remedies .. such as poppies &c &c– For a few hours in the evening (when under the influence of medecines) she is “quite free from pain”– At intervals there is still severe pain,—and the general state appears unchanged. Two of my brothers are gone away, [2] but George remains,—and Arabel, of course– The spirits are said to be depressed .. which is a physical symptom I dare say, .. and as she does not care for reading (except a little in religious books) there is nothing to distract the attention of the mind from the sad circumstances– I have such a pretty photograph of the three children– [3]
Now .. not to throw my heavy burdens on you too much–
Let us talk of Italy– How she is taking her full stature in spite of all difficulties!– Garibaldi will be worthy of himself presently, when beyond the dismal fumes of this grotto del cane [4] .... the dog Mazzini– Well, I am sorry .. but really I cant use decent & moderate language when I think of his coming in just as we touch the goal to do his best to throw us out of the course– Mazzini, Ledru Rollin & Simon Bernard, [5] —who being gathered together, the Devil is in the midst of them [6] —think of that goodly company!– And Jessie Mario inviting her friends to Paris .. (a pic nic at the Tuilleries, I suppose) next Christmas Day!– [7]
Meanwhile what wonderful things are going on in Rome– Mrs Hooker was here to say ‘good bye’ yesterday previously to going to Rome today, with a letter from her husband and information from two other great authorities she swears .. which, as she told her story to me, took away my breath for joy, & left me in a state of half wondering incredulity– I could really scarcely believe that the end was so triumphantly & suddenly near––nor even now cannot,—though the Roman correspondent of the Daily News seems to bear out the view to a certain extent. [8]
Everybody is making banners, says Mr Hooker, for the entrance of the Piedmontese—the priestly power is flat .. the populace crowds the streets undisturbed .. & the perfect understanding between Louis Napoleon & Victor Emmanuel, patent—so that the arrival sooner or later of ‘Nostro Re’ [9] is considered a fixed thing. Mrs Hooker was going off in haste lest she should be too late for the entrance!– And this idea, observe, imbibed from that confidential friend of the Neri, [10] the husband Hooker. Husband & banker– Highly respectable of course in each capacity.
“But,” (I objected) .. “after all it would be scarcely honorable of the Emperor to open the gates of Rome to the pope’s enemy at this precise moment–”
“Not honorable,” cries the female Hooker in a blaze– (She is a nice fervid little thing, Isa!) “Victor Emmanuel is’nt the pope’s enemy,—and the Piedmontese will do for a guard as well as the French .. wont they?” I give you this for what it’s worth– I myself think that the Holy Father will be allowed the peace & interval of the death bed of his political power. He must either fly, or yield– And mean time …
What seems decided is the comparative liberation of the popular feeling at Rome, .. the permitted gathering together of crowds, .. and the unwillingness of the French to allow Lamoriciere’s fugitives to return to the paternal arms–
Napoleon is great, & we are his prophets, [11] Isa, you & I—are we not?
With all that, I am not easy about the meeting at Warsaw– [12] Lord John’s despatch to Cavour, too, about Venetia, vexes me to the heart– [13] People accuse me of thinking too ill of England:—but here I did not think ill enough, .. for I never suspected the existence in these latter days of an official paper of this kind,—& even said to the Matteucci (against his opinion) that the English government could not possibly help the position of Austria in respect to Venetia– And now see! The reference to “English interests in the Adriatic” turns my very soul to sickness. Observe, Isa– Official French despatches are excusable when they assume the colour of “all we hate” .., because France has deeds as well as words, & her deeds are always in our favour– She uses the sword, & therefore has to guard the sword-arm—but England gives nothing but words, as we all know, .. & therefore if the words are not clean,—if the moral influence is not direct, .. verily she is guilty & to be numbered among the enemies–
It’s all jealousy of France– They would rather that Italy perished than that France helped her–
I hope the Turin parliament will acknowledge the national gratitude to Garibaldi,—though he is not a statesman.– A hero he is, & Italy’s debt to him is great.
Dearest dear Isa, I miss the idea of you .. the sight of you .. & the sense of you at the end of the lane– Only there you are at Florence—& you are wanted to make my Florence,—& at Florence we shall arrive D.V. [14] next monday– Probably that is– Peni is quite rosy again– I am pretty well. I went into Siena yesterday in Mrs Story’s carriage with Robert just for a drive, & was tired afterwards—but it was right I suppose– For the rest, I am like Theodosia Trollope– I do little but read newspapers from end to end all day. The love of Italy has devoured me. Robert quite wonders at me—and I wonder that anybody in the world can think or feel for anything else but Italy .. Italy .. Italy … except precious sisters who suffer & wont let the heart rest on this great horizon of public affairs, without the gnawing of the private, intimate worm–
Jenny Crawford [15] has had a bad sore-throat (Mr Walker whispering in our ears awful things of the possibility of diphtheria!) but was much better yesterday–
Now I must let this letter go– I love you more than ever my Isa, & am yours in proportion
Great haste—Ba
Write–
Bruen party expected in Siena today–
Mrs Story says she has written to you. She was very thankful for your most hospitable offer (Genius of hospitality called Isa!) [16] & much inclined to accept it–
[Continued by RB]
Dearest Isa,– Your note to Nencini was at once sent up to me for interpretation– I accordingly drew up the “heads” of it—&, yesterday, was assured that he understood & had written to you about every thing. (He can’t manage the “Fiaschétti”, [17] prognosticating calamities in their transmission.) There seem to have been no letters nor journals for you. Goodbye. My horse pulls hard in the direction of Villa Pupi, [18] as I ride past it. We go to Florence on Monday, probably.
Yours affy ever,
RB.
Publication: B-IB, pp. 366–370.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. Dated by RB’s reference at the end of this letter to the Brownings’ intention of leaving Siena on Monday, 8 October; they actually left on the 11th.
2. Charles John and Octavius.
3. See the preceding letter.
4. “Den of dogs.” EBB is mistaken about Mazzini’s influence at Naples (see letter 4753, note 10).
5. Simon François Bernard (1817–62); see letter 4175, note 3. The Birmingham Journal of 29 September 1860, quoting from the Paris newspaper Le Pays, carried the following item: “It is confirmed that Mazzini and Ledru Rollin are at Naples. It is also said, but with all reserve, that Simon Bernard has arrived there” (p. 8).
6. Cf. Matthew 18:20.
7. We have been unable to trace the source of this information. Jessie White Mario and her husband, Alberto Mario, campaigned across Sicily with Garibaldi and were with him when he entered Naples.
8. The Daily News for 21 September 1860 reported: “Rumour says that Cialdini with 30,000 men, is marching on Rome; that Piedmont will protect the Pope, and that a mixed government of French and Piedmontese will remain at Rome. At present there are in Naples 1,600 Piedmontese troops” (p. 5).
9. “Our King.”
10. The Neri (“the Blacks”), or Guelphs, who were historically the papal party, as opposed to the Ghibellines, or Bianchi (“the Whites”), the imperial party.
12. See letter 4753, note 12. EBB had nothing to fear from the Warsaw Conferences, which took place from 22 to 25 October. The Times of 1 November 1860 gave an account of the results, as given in the National-Zeitung, a Berlin newspaper: “Every indication proves that the interview at Warsaw has been without result, as was expected. … If Austria had found some support from Prussia and Russia, she would, it appears, have at once commenced war in Italy. The army of the Tyrol, of Venetia, and of Dalmatia had been considerably reinforced, and the evident sign of Austria’s intentions was the nomination of General [Ludwig von] Benedek to the chief command of the troops. It might have been foreseen, despite the recall of the Russian ambassador from Turin, that those plans would not find an echo at St. Petersburg” (p. 9).
13. EBB refers to a dispatch, dated 31 August, from British foreign secretary Lord John Russell to Sir James Hudson (1810-85), British minister at Turin. This communication, a copy of which was sent to Cavour, advised that in the event of “an attack by Italian forces on the Venetian Province,” Victor Emmanuel would be “violating the Treaty of Zurich [see letter 4550, note 6]” and that “such an attack, if unsuccessful, would give Austria an opportunity, of which perhaps she would not be sorry to avail herself, of restoring Romagna to the Pope, and Tuscany to the Grand Duke. … The only chance which Sardinia could have in such a contest would be the hope of bringing France into the field, and kindling a general war in Europe. But let not Count Cavour indulge in so pernicious a delusion. The Great Powers of Europe are bent on maintaining peace, and Great Britain has interests in the Adriatic which Her Majesty’s Government must watch with careful attention” (Further Correspondence Relating to the Affairs of Italy, Part VII, 1861, p. 50). The Morning Chronicle of 28 September (p. 5) ran a translation of the dispatch, which had appeared as a German translation in the Cologne Gazette. Other London newspapers followed suit the next day.
14. “Deo Volente” (“God willing”).
16. An ironic allusion to Isa Blagden’s dislike of Emelyn Story. Presumably, Isa had invited the Storys to stay at Villa Brichieri.
17. “Small flasks.”
18. Where Isa had been staying in Siena.
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