4856. Walter Savage Landor to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 41–42.
[Florence]
March 25 [1861] [1]
Dear Browning, when I wrote to you, the other day, a letter which I was desirous you should (after reading it) forward to my brother, [2] my hurry and confusion were such that I forgot the main point. I must now request of you to send this also to him, unwilling as I am to do it, knowing the weakness of his eyes.
My brother Henry had the kindness to become one of my trustees. He left the management of the property to Mr Walter Landor of Rugeley in Staffordshire. It was agreed that my unworthy wife should receive 600l a year to maintain the house, and that I should have 400. It appears that I am deprived of every shilling by a decree of the Chancellor. My sons have each two thousand pounds, and my daughter 2500, left to them by my sister: [3] So, with a house which I could have lett for 100£ a year, and garden containing more than a hundred lemon trees, and land of 84 acres, they possessed upwards of 1200 a year. Now I require only 120, quite certain that my life will not last a twelvemonth.
My dear mother [4] has been dead nearly thirty years. At her decease my estates brought an income of nearly 3000. I left all my farms in good condition, and built three new farmhouses. After paying me 400 a year and my wife 600, and the children 20 each, and a mortgage of 500, interest on 10,000—there surely must be something left. It was proposed that all such savings should be reserved for younger children. But this reservation was made when I consented to live on 400 a year. No account has ever been given to me of my rents. Mr W. Landor, who received 100 a year as agent for 30 years, now tells me that he lately paid fifteen pounds, which he expects from my son.
My estates in Staffordshire were not entailed. These were sold for 35 or 36,000£. The whole of the money was laid out on L[l]anthony. [5] In consideration of which, Arnold agreed to pay, after his mothers death, an annuity of 150£ to each of his brothers. His sister, whose conduct is notorious, would have had the same. But she kept for her own use 108 destined for my board and lodging with my family. With difficulty Arnold got it back. To indemnify herself in some measure, she opened my writing-desk, and took from it two five-pound bank-of England notes, all the money I had.
I request nothing more, for the short remainder of my life, than one hundred and twenty pounds a year, out of what has been saved from my rents. In almost 30 years it must have amounted to many hundreds. My brother Henry alone can claim this from Mr W. Landor. It is not only improbable, but impossible, that I can live two years. My cough is incessant from the smoke that has fallen on my lungs, and my only food is broth. I fall asleep many times in the day, and am too weak to walk more than as far as Palazzo Pitti. I desire nothing more. I entreat of you to send this to my brother, just as I have written it after long thought and trouble, and to believe ever
Your obliged and grateful
Walter S. Landor
Address: Robert Browning Esq / 126 Via Felice / Roma.
Publication: BBIS-5, pp. 38–39.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Year provided by postmark.
2. Henry Eyres Landor (see letter 4852).
3. Elizabeth Savage Landor (1776–1854); see letter 4739, note 1.
4. Elizabeth Landor (née Savage, 1743–1829).
5. Llanthony Abbey, an estate in Wales that Landor acquired in 1808. It contains the ruins of Llanthony Priory, built in the early twelfth century.
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