5494. Sophia Landor to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 180–181.
Tachbrooke. Leamington
29th Novr [1864] [1]
My dear Sir
Your last kind letter has remained unanswered a few days because I thought you wld like to hear of the safe arrival of the Pictures at Birlingham; that intelligence has just reached me & my Uncle seems greatly pleased with the acquisition: he is always delighted to obtain a new Picture & I have no doubt he will find some merit in these. I understand he has written to you about the payments for them, therefore I need say nothing on that point. As regards the closing of your most kind “Stewardship,” I think there can be no longer any reason against it, & it is very desirable it shld be done, on Madame Romagnoli’s account as well as yours. I cannot suppose that any demand will be made for the expenses of taking out the Will, & as to the 30s for medical attendance, cld not Made R. learn whether that has been paid? if it has not let it be done at once & let all that remains be hers. This will terminate transactions of unparalleled kindness on your part, but it will not chill the grateful recollection of them; that I trust will remain ever warm & fresh, as long as the powers of memory last.
I have heard nothing more either from Italy or Rugeley & perhaps may not for some time: my Cousin, Mr Robert Landor, is often so very tardy: I imagine it must have been to him that my Cousins in Italy, have written, no letter has been received from them by either of their Uncles. I think they wld do wisely in sending Carlino to England, if he is at all capable of transacting business. The account they have given to Mr Kirkup of their affairs is substantially correct; Mrs Landor has a jointure of £500 a year; Arnold has all the landed property, that in England producing about £2400 a year, subject to his Mother’s jointure: all other debts, I think, are provided for by a heavy Insurance, but I am not sure whether there may not be one charge of £9000 unprovided for. Some little has been accrueing of late years, for the younger children & I hope there may be as much as £2000 each for them: they have already received a like sum, ten years ago, from my Aunts. This, probably, is all they will possess of their own, but I hope Arnold will make some addition to it: his income must far exceed his requirements, or indeed his powers of spending, in his present lamentable state. I am thankful to say my Uncle Henry is better, he desires to unite with me in true & grateful regard, believe me, my dear Sir
Very sincerely yrs
E. Sophia Landor
The Piano continues to afford much pleasure & satisfaction.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Yale University.
1. Year provided by the reference to Landor’s will.
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