4952. Robert Bulwer Lytton to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 210–211.
Vienna.
24 Aug. 1861
I dont know where this letter will reach you my dearest Browning, as Forster, in a letter recd yesterday, [1] tells me that you are not expected in England for a month or six weeks, and Mr Cartwright, who is here, & whom I saw the same day tells me that when he last heard from you, you were just starting for Engd Any how I fancy the Fg St Germain must be a safe address. I am still staying with the Bloomfield’s but expect to return to Vienna for good early next week, when I will at once send you the Vol of Don’s Poems [2] wh I mentioned at Florence—& wh I searched for and found immediately on my return here. In justification of my previous stupidity about the book, I must tell you that it was sent by mistake with some other books of mine to the binder’s, who thereupon bound it up with nothing less incongruous than a speech of Mr James in defence of Dr Bernard. [3] I am afraid this bad company might render its fate, if sent open by the French Post, somewhat insecure, and I shall therefore send it under cover to the Embassy at Paris. From what Forster says in his letter I rather gather that you think of settling in England for the Winter. He himself talks seriously enough of the possibility of his visiting Vienna next Spring; that is certainly a long time to forecount, but how delightful it wd be to me if there were a chance of your also coming this way at the same time– Is there any? I am rather hopeful that you may make England your chief moorings for some time yet to come—not only because that wd give me a greater certainty of seeing you oftener, but on all accts, and notably, because I am confident that your presence there will expedite & ensure the just and full national recognition of all that England has to be proud of in you. Perhaps it will be well for Penny too in some respects. Cottrell told me at Florence, before I left, that he had let your house for a short time. It is fortunate,—but I cannot bear to think of it– Nor indeed of Florence at all now– I am all the more anxious to know exactly where you are and what things & persons are now about you– The weather has turned to cold here, and the Autum[n] leaves are thick and wet with nightly rains in the Garden Walks– I see & think of nothing but change–
And indeed public affairs are here in that state that all is changing & passing fast away no man can say whither. No body here sees a yard before him. The other day a gigantic serpent, thicker than a man’s arm was discovered in the cellar of Ld Bloomfield’s house—among the bottles & sawdust– He was identified as having lived there for several generations—& being of great age– He appears to be not only very old but very fierce, & has been left unmolested, no one daring to approach, much less attack him– Time passes & I hear nothing of you—nor of Isa, whose address also, I know not– But I shall write to her this week & intrust my letter to you if you will let me– God bless & be with you
Ever, my most dear friend.
Your loving
R Lytton
My truest love to dear Penny.
Address, on integral page: France / Robt Browning Esqr / 151 R. de Grenelle / Faubg St Germains / Paris. Redirected: St Enogat / Ille et Villaine. Redirected, on verso: Chz Me Chauvin / à S Enogat / S Dronard [sic].
Publication: BBIS-10, pp. 178–179.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. See SD2501.
2. Sic, for Donne’s Poems, as revealed in later correspondence. We have been unable to identify this book. There are no copies of Donne’s works with a provenance to Lytton in Reconstruction.
3. The Speech of Edwin James, Esq. … in Defence of Dr. Simon Bernard, delivered at the Central Criminal Court, on Friday, the 16th of April, 1858 (1858). Bernard had been tried as an accessory in the assassination attempt on Napoleon III (see letter 4175, note 3).
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