4918. RB to William Wetmore Story & Emelyn Story
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 162–163.
[Florence]
Wednesday, 2 oclock [26 June 1861] [1]
Dear Friends,
Your note of last night & today are come safely– Ba has been very ill indeed but is better I hope & think, today. She had a restless night, which I thought would not have happened, as the day was better: she is inclined to sleep today & the cough is less troublesome—with none of the first alarming symptoms,—but her weakness is extreme tho’ we do all we can to strengthen her. The moment she recovers we shall go to the easiest & coolest place, probably Siena—her recovery will be slow,—one lung is entirely congested & useless. There was some cold caught & then this more formidable accident became known. Pen is quite well. I could write of many things but really want spirit & time. All thanks for all your kindness—coming here would distress us to no purpose. Ba can see no one, of course. We need no assurance of your entire goodness & sympathy. I have letters &c but of these another time. Lytton is here & very assiduous in calling for news. Treat me better than I deserve & write news, now & at all times, of yourselves. I grieve to hear dear Edie is again unwell,—that ought not to be, so persistently. Love to you all from us all.
Ever yours affy
RB
I have sent your packet to the D. di C. [2] What exquisite photographs,—what a delight to have! Mr Boott send the packet of Ba’s cartes– I suppose, the Poney-thing [3] had not arrived when you left.
To give a touch of interest to my note (full of our poor selves) I copy a bit of a letter just come. (“Our queen is not insane, nor in the least approaching it. [4] She held an immense drawing room yesterday—not easy to do, had such been the case. She felt deeply her mother’s death for two reasons—one that P. Albert would not allow her to be sent for till so late, when the D. of Kent was beyond the power of recognising her—& the on dit is, that it was very long before she forgave her husband for this act: & beside this, it is believed perfectly by everyone that her mother died a R. Catholic, which was a great grief to her—this is received by all as a fact!”[)] [5]
Cartwright has also written, & is set out for Garstein, [6] Dicey from Turin &c &c
Publication: BAF, pp. 73–75.
Manuscript: University of Texas.
1. Dated by reference to letter 4921, in which RB describes EBB’s final illness and death.
2. The Duchess of Casigliano.
3. A photograph of Pen on his pony, Stella; it is reproduced facing p. 177.
5. Victoria Maria Louisa, Duchess of Kent (1786–1861), died of cancer on 16 March. There is no evidence she converted to Roman Catholicism.
6. Sic, for Gastein, a picturesque valley in west central Austria, containing three villages: Dorf Gastein, Bad Hofgastein, and Bad Gastein.
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