5134. Sophia Landor to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 153–154.
Tachbrooke.
Tuesday eveng, Novr 18th [1862] [1]
Dear Mr Browning
If your always kind letters do not receive quite as prompt attention as they ought to do, I trust you will kindly remember that any thing which cannot be mentioned to my Uncle must be laid aside until he retires to bed. A solitary drive this afternoon afforded me an opportunity of considering a little about these valuable Pictures & I am sorry to say I do not quite concur in your suggestion as to the best mode of disposing of them. Suppose you were good enough to encumber yourself with the custody of them in behalf of my Uncles, how shld we dispose of them in the end? It is probable you might find them a great trouble in case of a change of residence or the death of my Uncles & it is equally probable they might prove a still greater annoyance in another way: the first moment a desire was felt by their generous owner to make a quarrel, you wld be charged with keeping these priceless treasures from interested motives. In like manner, were I to purchase them for anything less than £500 or £1000, I shld assuredly be considered to have cunningly made my fortune by them. Added to which I have no room to hang them & no inclination to give even £5 for such a purpose, while thousands of my fellow countrymen & women are almost perishing from cold & hunger. With submission to you, I am inclined to think the best way will be to inform Mr Linton where they are & when he may send for them, stating at the same time the amount you have already paid on his account for them & promising to let him know the farther amount that has been paid for packing &c, as soon as you receive it from Italy: quietly intimating also that as Mr Landor has simply 0–0–0 of his own, it is not in his power to defray these charges[.] Dont you think this might be done, all in the way of business, without offence? As to the sacrifice to people who have no claim, it is only of a piece with all the rest & is really not worth two thoughts, it is simply a small vexation. If Mr Linton shld decline to accept the Pictures at such a price, which seems to me not impossible, I think there cld then be no hesitation about selling them & placing the money to my Uncle’s account, I mean to the fund in your hands for him, & inform him of the transaction when it is done. I fear any other course than this wld involve us in a great deal more trouble than the Pictures are worth. As to the burning of the Will, it seems to me, that requires no answer or comment to him & that it will be best to make none; but doubtless you are aware that you have no right to burn it, even if you had the will & the power. The conclusion of all this anxiety about the burial is truly characteristic & precisely what we all expected: having given all the trouble he cld & met with no opposition, he cares not one groat about it. Now I am going to ask you to do another kindness, I fear you will think me rather exigéant, [2] but you will see my motive: will you be so kind as to write me at your leisure a letter about this strange but still valued old man, such as I can read to his Brother without exciting any particular vexation. The last two letters have related almost exclusively to topics which it is better not to trouble my Uncle Henry about & he has consequently heard nothing of his Brother since the memorable letter which is supposed to have been sent to Italy & he now often wonders that he has received no reply to that: [3] I have pacified him by saying that I did not expect it wld elicit any reply & that I am hoping the matter will rest there, but he is growing anxious for news of his Brother & I shld be glad to tell him anything that wld not give vexation in the way of business. I shld not be afraid of mentioning the account of health you received from Miss Blagden, it is but what we ought to expect & if just a little softened down I do not think it wld give any shock: it wld be a great satisfaction to hear of this last resolve about the burial, but I think we must entirely let alone the Pictures. My Uncle Henry is very well in health now, but a fortnight ago I was rather uneasy about him, there was something amiss on the brain for nearly a fortnight & these little attacks, which he has had now 3 successive winters, leave a distressing irritability of brain, which will not cease until warm weather returns, so it is now become needful to avoid as much as possible anything that will vex or excite. My letter has grown to a most unreasonable length. I will only add that if you think my advice about the Pictures not good, I shall gladly defer to your better judgement & remain ever
Gratefully & sincerely Yrs
Sophia Landor
Address: Robert Browning Esqre / 19. Warwick Crescent / Harrow Road / London (W.).
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Yale University.
1. Year provided by postmark.
2. “Demanding.”
3. Referring to Henry Landor’s letter to his brother Walter, which RB was to either forward or withhold (see letter 5120).
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