5373. RB to Sebastian B. Schlesinger
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 48–49.
London, 19 Warwick Crescent,
Upper Westbourne Terrace,
May 5, ’64.
Dear Sebastian, [1]
How ungrateful I must seem to you! You sent me flowers, and biscuits, and kind messages better than all, and I seem, pig-like, to have munched up my acorns without a grunt of gratitude in return: the comfort is that you wished to be purely benevolent, and have got what you wanted, in obliging me, without getting also,—what really I wanted,—an assurance however poor of my hearty thanks. Then, I wanted to send you a photograph which was to have been made, and even now is not—and finally goodness like yours is apt to take one’s breath away—there!
I often hear about you, for I am always at your Brother and Sister’s—those dear admirable friends of mine, as I am privileged to say. It is strange what a steady stream of sunshine they direct, over a street or two, [2] into my hermitage here: I hope they care about the love they get in return, seeing that it is all they do get.
Pen, your friend, is growing a great, brown, bonny fellow: he is just come back from a fortnight’s visit to an Uncle in the country: he rides, rows, does good healthy things; he sends you his kindest remembrances, of course.
I won’t sadden our hand-shaking by a word about the struggle in your country: I shall believe that the end will compensate for all your sacrifices, terrible as they are, and must continue to be. I often see the kind Adams family—you are capitally represented, at least.
You should be here, for a few minutes’ renovation and enjoyment, to hear Hallé .. I was going on, when Mrs Benzon called for books and letters: I can’t say more, but what more need I say? Being ever, and beyond the fear of finding words in fault when I want them most,
Yours ever faithfully
& affectionately
Robert Browning.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Morristown National Historic Park.
1. Sebastian Benzon Schlesinger (1837–1917), German-born partner, along with his brother Barthold Schlesinger, in the Boston branch of the steel manufacturing firm of Naylor, Vickers & Co., which was based in Sheffield, England, and in which their half-brother Ernst Benzon (né Schlesinger) was a partner.
2. The Ernst Benzons lived at 10 Kensington Park Gardens, much farther than “a street or two” from RB’s house at 19 Warwick Crescent.
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