4941. RB to Edward Twisleton
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 194–195.
Florence,
July 28. ’61.
Dear Twisleton,
I shall not “tax myself by noticing your letter”—but may I not take the comfort of telling you how I feel your kindness, & how precious such an expression of it is to me just now? I do know and shall never forget the affectionateness of dear Mrs Twisleton and yourself for my wife—she did little to repay it, but yours are great hearts and can understand. Say this for me—adding that when I became possessed at Rome,—a month ago! [1] —of the one satisfactory photograph ever taken of her, to my mind,—I thought of the pleasure it would give Mrs Twisleton—it will give her pleasure still.
I leave Italy altogether for many years—& shall reside eventually in London, I suppose—though I go now to my family in Paris—to be near them, that is. I shall just cross to London, for some two or three days only, in order to see my wife’s sister: if I should not call on you during this little stay, you will forgive me—after a while I shall be able to enjoy your society indeed. I have much to live for, and occupy myself about, immediately—there is our child to educate—and, by the way, I shall be particularly fortunate presently if I may profit by your experience in the Commissionership and have your advice on points where it will be very valuable. [2]
I ought not to leave your sympathy uninformed that there was very little pain—absolutely no consciousness of separation from us up to the very last: it is all strange, yet with much alleviation: I was also ignorant—when I reasoned about the symptoms,—and yet with an instinctive foreboding,—or so it appears now. She was convinced that there was nothing to distinguish this “cold” from so many evils—on the last evening she wished us to take a Villa “for three years”,—and she was happy and smiling a few minutes before the end of all.
Ever yours gratefully,
Robert Browning–
Should you ever need my address—& it will always delight me to hear from you. I am to be found at 151. Rue de Grenelle, Faubg St Germain.
Address: The / Hon: Edward Twisleton / 3. Rutland Gate, Hyde Park / S.W. / London.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Harvard University.
1. As RB writes in the preceding letter, this photograph of EBB (variant B) was “taken at Rome two months ago”; it is reproduced facing p. 176.
2. Edward Turner Boyd Twisleton (1809–74) “was said to have sat on more commissions than any man in England” (Hawthorne, 14, 794). In 1850 he was in Boston examining educational institutions when he met his wife, Ellen (née Dwight, 1828–62). In 1855 he was made a commissioner for Oxford University and in June 1861 became a member of the Royal Commission on public schools.
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