4788. RB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 28, 235–237.
Rome, Via Felice, 126.
Monday Eg Dec. 3. ’60.
Dearest Isa,
Your letter came in the afternoon, too late for the post—but I can’t let the day go by without saying a word in reply to it. How could you think for a moment that we were so stupid, as well as ungrateful, as to suppose that a shadow of a fault attached itself to you—you who would go thro’ fire & water to do a far less service than this was? I knew exactly how the thing had happened—for we did get one letter, or newspaper, properly re-directed to “Rome” from Florence—& then, no doubt, the official at the Post gave place to another, or forgot the whole matter, and we were the sufferers. During the journey (a wretched business) Ba’s whole heart was set on arriving & getting news—& we found none. I did my best to turn this to the [sic] some account, and, by explaining and putting good constructions on everybody’s silence, got on till Wednesday when the suspense became too hard to bear and I was forced to telegraph to you and to George Barrett: your answer decided my conviction but, expecting the answer from England to arrive every moment, I was able to keep back the full purport of the letters (which arrived two days after) till yesterday when, knowing the end was inevitable I communicated the facts as well as I could—a letter having come at last from George: this morning brought the final announcement of poor Henrietta’s death which took place on the Friday evening of our getting to Rome [1] —and the worst has been so long anticipated that there is little more to suffer—it is better than the suspense of the last ten days. You know Ba’s ways—how she hides herself in such a trouble as this: she has seen nobody as yet, and friends understand and do not try to talk impossible comfort. She will get over this, as other losses, in time: but she has endured and is still enduring sorrow enough. I told her just now I would write to you and she thanked me.
Dearest Isa, once more—never fancy for a moment that we, or either of us, could misunderstand you or forget the past—you know how curt & imperative a despatch needs must be—one can’t explain and apologise and add the kind things one fain would—but you are you, & we are we, and we know each other, as I say.
I have many things to inform you of—but they don’t come into my head at this minute. True thanks for all your goodness in attending to our teazings—which may yet have been not overmuch for your friendship. Oh, one thing—the Police have stopped my “Nazione”—Russell receiving one of his own: he had to explain (after some fashion) how he came to be claiming two forbidden papers! He also takes in the “Monitore”—what am I to do? If Bettini [2] would take the pains to try the experiment of rolling the papers up somewhat artfully, so as to hide the name, and address them to me, 126 Felice,—like papers sent from a friend, and not a news agent—regular, they might reach me, I am told—and in that case I would renew my subscription as soon as it expires—also I would repay him for the expenditure of paper requisite for larger envelopes than the narrow paper fillet that betrays the Office & tempts the spite of the Police. If he can’t be at that trouble, bid Wilson get them for Mr Landor, who expends his daily two crazie on what I shall be able to give him gratis.
I saw Hatty for a moment, looking well and conducting herself pleasantly. The Prince advanced to her with extended hand, at the Ball,—was delighted to meet her again, told her that “Puck” was established in his Oxford Rooms and a great favorite. [3] She told me none of this, of course. I have seen nobody else—only Russell (about the telegram) and Cartwright, excepting the Storys. Cartwright & Arthur Russell saw Hume (Blumenthal [4] being present) and wholly disbelieved in his raps & pinches. Blumenthal knows e flat from f sharp, no doubt—but I must end, you see. Goodbye, dearest Isa—I will write again & do you keep me in your mind as ever yours affectionately
R Browning.
Publication: B-IB, pp. 375–377.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. On 23 November 1860.
2. André Bettini, at Piazza San Gaetano, is described as being the most up-to-date in political and literary news (see C.D. Blanc, Guide de Florence, Florence, 1860, p. xxii).
3. The Prince of Wales bought a copy of Harriet Hosmer’s sculpture “Puck” when he visited Rome in 1859. The ball took place in Boston, 18 October 1860, during the Prince’s visit to Canada and the United States.
4. Jacob Blumenthal, pianist and composer (see letter 4608, note 3).
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