5505. Sophia Landor to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 188–189.
Tachbrooke. Leamington
16th Decr [1864] [1]
My dear Sir
Accept many, tho’ too tardy, thanks for your kind letter, which I am sorry not to have acknowledged sooner; & also for the one that accompanies it from Made Romagnoli, which I assure you commands my admiration, rather than the reverse, independently of the neat corrections of her kind protector: I am accustomed to see the lessons taught at School so soon forgotten, even when there is no such excuse as she has, that I look upon her letter as a remarkably good specimen, in every way: I wish I cld see such from some of my old friends & pupils, who have been less than half the time out of School: but I am very lenient to errors in orthography, if the important duties of life are well fulfilled. As regards your good & faithful servant I rejoice that she receives what you are kind enough to consider, a liberal compensation for her invaluable services: I only hope she fully understands that it comes entirely from my Uncles, not in any degree from myself: as you know, I am only their Pen. As to your own great kindness, I really believe we shall best manifest our grateful reliance upon it, by again availing ourselves of it, whenever occasion occurs: & there is one point on which I think we shall again solicit your aid: that is to ascertain, in due time, whether a suitable memorial is erected, in accordance with my poor Uncle’s wishes. [2] Probably Mr Kirkup might be able to prevent an unsuitable one being put up. Whether the Will, will ever be carried into effect, I begin to doubt: I have written again to my Cousin, [3] using as a reason for not longer delaying, the possibility that Made R. may soon leave Florence & then there wld be difficulty in getting to her, the few things she is to have: but I can get no answer from him. I really think my Cousins in Italy wld comply with whatever he requires, if he wld only write to them.
With truest regards from my Uncle, who is very well, I remain my dear Sir
Very sincerely yrs
E. Sophia Landor
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Yale University.
1. Year provided by the reference to Landor’s will.
3. i.e., Robert Landor (1829–1914), of Rugeley.
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