5012. Walter Savage Landor to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 21–22.
[Florence]
January 21 [1862] [1]
Dear Browning,
This morning Mrs Romagnoli gave me the painful intelligence that Robert has been suffering, but that the malady was slight. By the same post I received a letter from my friend Sandford, [2] telling me that he had paid ten pounds five shillings for the grave prepared to be my restingplace in Widcombe churchyard. I hope and trust you can procure for me the only personal sum I shall ever want. My painful cough, and absolute want of sleep by night all last winter, urged me to apply to the worthy incumbent of Widcombe for this favor, [3] the churchyard being now closed. I have suffered less from cough this bitterly cold season than in last, but sciatica so afflicts me that I find it painful to bend over my writing-table, and have been confined to my room nearly three months. Several friends have come frequently to visit me, and some strangers, principally Americans, Kirkup, Count Cotterell, [4] the O’Calligans, [5] and my dear old friend the Countess Baldelli, who brings her sister and daughters with her. [6] They excuse me rising from my chair, which is a matter of difficulty and some pain. I get about two hours sleep, beginning at seven, I think, and lasting til nine, when I am called to breakfast. This is my chief meal. I do not eat three ounces of meat when my appetite is at the best. I have only to add that my son Charles has promist to see me packed up and carried to England. I wish the hour were come, Arnold, ungrateful and dishonest as he is, will hardly refuse to repay him the small expenses of my funeral. There will be only a small slab of stone over my grave, bearing my name, date of birth, and death. Let me hear that kind Sandford has received the 10£ 5s and believe ever yours affectionately
W. S. Landor
Sandford lives at 9 Springfield Place– Lansdown. Bath.
Address: Angleterre / Robert Browning Esq / 1 Chichester Road / Upper Westbourne Terrace / London.
Publication: BBIS-5, p. 46 (as 22 January 1862).
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Year provided by postmark.
2. William Graham Sandford (1834–84); see letter 4329, note 2.
3. Landor refers to George Edward Tate (1818–1900); see letter 4991, note 5.
4. Henry Cottrell (1811–71), who had received the honorary title of count from the Duke of Lucca in 1846.
5. Unidentified. The name is spelled “O’Callaghan” in letter 5148.
6. Henrietta Gertrude Baldelli (née Walker, 1814–1903) had two daughters with her second husband, Count Antonio Baldelli Boni (d. 1884): Giulia (1851–1932) and Bianca (1852–69). The sister mentioned is presumably Harriet Horatia Wilson (née Walker, 1826–1907); see letter 3427, note 5.
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