5015. Sophia Landor to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 28–29.
Tachbrooke. Leamington
28th Jany [1862] [1]
My dear Sir
Thank you very much for your letter received this morning & for your kindness regarding the new publication: [2] it is a great relief to learn that it threatens no serious annoyance. As regards the new vexation, the burial-place, I fear it is but too true that Mr Sandford has bought it, for he is the most indiscreet of well-meaning friends & flatterers. If he has done so, it is my Uncle Henry’s opinion that he must bear the consequences: he knows quite enough of my Uncle Walter’s circumstances to be well aware that he ought not to have incurred any such outlay besides having had numerous polite hints from my Sister [3] & myself that any interference with our Uncle’s private affairs wd be by no means agreeable to his relations. My Uncle Henry feels that to listen to this appeal wd only be to open the door to others, & that it is best to maintain their stand firmly, where it was at first made by himself & my Uncle Robert: viz. that they will provide for the comfortable maintenance of their Brother so long as he conforms to their terms & nothing more, & that they will not allow themselves to be fretted by any appeals of any kind. The Funeral expences fall in the proper order of things, upon the Executors, if he leaves any property: failing that, those expences must be defrayed by his nearest of kin, his Widow & children. It will be for their interest to bring him to England for interment, for the sake of proving his decease & their right to the Estates: if they do not choose to do so, they must then take the consequences. They have a very good legal adviser in their Cousin, Mr Robert Landor of Rugeley, & my younger Uncles are determined in no way to interfere with any arrangements of that kind, which ought to rest exclusively with his immediate representatives. As to the choice of his burying place, it is as evanescent as any of his other fancies: it has changed many times & probably will change many more, if he lives a few years longer. His first, most permanent & most reasonable wish was to rest in this Churchyard or Church, where his Parents & Sisters are: that was given up about 2 years before he left Bath, because he was determined & wrote it in his Will, with his own hand, that his Funeral expences shd not exceed £5 & that he wd be buried like the poorest pauper: as he cd not be carried from Bath to Tachbrooke for £5. he then selected the Churchyard at Widcombe; it has since been closed & I very much doubt whether he can be laid there, whatever may have been paid. I fear you will think me rather Spartan for sending such an answer; but it is my Uncle Henry’s answer & I think you will see it is the wisest course: I also hope that it will be the least trouble to you to be able to tell my Uncle Walter once for all, that you have no means of meeting any such requisitions, that the money intrusted to your care by his Brothers is solely for his maintenance while he lives, & while he resides with Made Romagnoli: all beyond must be provided for by his Wife & children. I am vexed at Mr Sandford’s interference, he ought not to have done it: but having done it he must take consequences. Thus far my letter was submitted to my Uncle H, before he left the room, tho’ he is not now present, I am sure I may add that your [sic] are at liberty to make what use you like of it, in writing to my Uncle Walter. My first thought was to have written to Mr Sandford & not to trouble my Uncle, but I believe it is best to have no reserves & here is the result. I hope you will agree in thinking it the right course & for us to say nothing to Mr Sandford.
Yrs most sincerely & gratefully
S Landor
Address: Robert Browning Esqre / 1. Chichester Road / Upper Westbourne Terrace / London (W.).
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Yale University.
1. Year provided by postmark.
2. See the preceding letter, note 2.
3. Catherine Mary (“Kitty”) Landor (1817–92).
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