5333. Bryan Waller Procter to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 17–18.
32 Weymouth Street
Portland Place W
11 February [1864] [1]
My dear Browning
Will you read the enclosed [2] & see if it explains your meaning. Then—either use it—or put in the fire—or come & talk to me about it. You know that I like to see you, whether it be to talk about Wills or not.
Ever yours
B. W. Procter.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: University of Chicago.
1. Year provided by Procter’s reference to “Wills.” RB’s will, evidently drawn up by Procter, is dated 12 February 1864.
2. Presumably RB’s will, which reads as follows:
This is the last Will and testament of me Robert Browning the younger of 19 Warwick Crescent Harrow Road Esquire. First I revoke all other Wills Also I give and bequeath unto George Gooden Moulton Barrett late of Warnicombe House Tiverton Barrister and John Forster of Palace Gate House Kensington Barrister (whom I hereby appoint my Executors and also my trustees for the purposes herein after mentioned) all my stock and property in the Italian Public debt or securities and also all my stock and property in the English funds And also all my copyrights money securities and personal estates whatsoever and wheresoever. Upon the trust following that is to say upon trust out of the income or annual proceeds of my Italian stock and securities to pay unto my sister Sarianna Browning half yearly during her natural life the sum of Two hundred pounds sterling for her absolute use and subject thereto Upon trust out of my Italian and English stocks and property and the income thereof from time to time to pay and apply such sums as shall be necessary or desirable to maintain and educate my son Robert Wiedemann Barrett Browning until he shall attain the age of twenty one years and on my said son attaining the age of twenty one years I direct my trustees to stand possessed of all my said Italian and English Stocks and property and all my personal estates whatsoever and wheresoever In trust for my said son Robert Wiedemann Barrett Browning absolutely subject nevertheless to the payment of the said yearly sum of Two hundred pounds sterling to my said sister during her life as aforesaid and further in case my said son Robert Wiedemann Barrett Browning shall die under the age of twenty one years leaving lawful issue Then I direct my said Italian and English Stocks property and personal estates subject to the said annuity to my said sister To be held by my trustees in trust for such issue And my Will further is that in case may said son Robert Wiedemann Barrett Browning shall die under the age of twenty one years without leaving lawful issue and leaving my said sister Sarianna Browning him surviving Then I direct my said trustees to stand possessed of all my Italian and English Stocks property and personal estates In trust for the sole and absolute benefit of my sister Sarianna Browning in the hope and confidence that she will by her last Will or otherwise give so much thereof and in such shares as she in her discretion shall think fit unto and amongst the children or issue of my uncle Reuben Browning and of my cousins James, John and George Silverthorne And I hereby declare my wish and desire to be that my trustees shall not sell nor convert into other stock or securities my said stock in the Italian debt during the lifetime of my sister or during the minority of my son In witness whereof I have hereunder and also to a duplicate hereof set my hand this twelfth of February Eighteen hundred sixty four- ROBERT BROWNING- Signed and declared by the said testator Robert Browning the younger as and for his last Will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto - A. TENNYSON Freshwater I.W.- F.T. PALGRAVE 5 York Gate London M.A. Univ: Oxon.
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