5599. RB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 257–259.
19. Warwick Crescent.
May 19th [1865] [1]
Dearest Isa,
I am really delighted to think that you have been able to have such a pleasure as a visit to Venice at just the time when it will do you most good: it is another proof of Mr Bracken’s constant kindness & forethought. I only hope the heat may not have increased too much. I know exactly where you are, or (alas, by this time, were) and see nearly what you see. It is a dear place—never to be supplanted in one’s memory. I suppose you don’t much care about missing the Dante ceremony: the mechanical, prepared programmed homage moves me little. I wonder if anybody looked up at the House as the procession passed it [2] —as I suppose it must have done. What does it matter, however?
I know Beatrice is here—having met Ay Trollope at the Academy Dinner: [3] he had arrived the night before, if not that morning: I did the former thing. Tell me particularly how T. T [4] is—were I he I should stay in Italy—I think: yet don’t know.
I saw Chapman yesterday, and spoke about the need of advertising your book: he said he had done so—but that it was not yet published, “out”– [5] It was to be delayed a little at Mudie’s request—is not that a good sign? I have just got it & shall read it again.
Did you see the reply of Lucas to me in the Athenæum [6] —he said “he had certainly understood in our interview that I would write perhaps at some time or other”—I never having had an interview at all with him, but receiving and answering his letter: of course had there been any symptom of ambiguity in my answer he would have printed the passage, but he acknowledged to me there was none—and so, told this deliberate lie: had I retorted, and proved it was that, I should have absolutely done for him,—so I pitied and let him alone: I hear the clue to it all is he drinks desperately, and is “never himself after five oclock”: he is moreover a disgusting person being a great talker of obscenity of an extraordinary description: enough of him. He has quarrelled with his publishers already, & wanted Chapman to publish his next number! [7] Probably no second will appear.
I wrote to you from Paris: all my little world is well: Milsand is married, dear fellow: I introduced him to Matthew Arnold who has long wanted to know him, and who, by the bye, goes to Florence soon. He is a Commissioner of Enquiry into the working of Foreign Schools, a matter that much interests people here. I am very sorry—you know how sorry, that there is to be no visit this year—for me—for I can’t much pity anybody who lives away from London where I grow bilious to an awful <…> [8] think of the reason and I a<…> down a staircase the night before last, so dense was the double current, coming & going,—I stood on the landing, jammed between two ladies, & laughed at my friends lower down. Then there are concerts &c.
Dearest Isa, I shall hold you to your word—to do what you can, whether little or much, in the matter of the Monument: just remind C. gently as you see occasion: I believe he means well: just a word now & then may help so much. Won’t you do this, dearest friend that I have?
I dined with Sir Edw: last Sunday week—did not say two words to him, so have nothing to report.
You ask about my Summer, or Autumn plans. I fix on nothing, but suppose that I shall try some new part of Bretagne: the Pyrenées are very lovely but too hot for the good of a change, and I want the sea beside. I am sorry you will have to move: the place will be spoiled & there is <…> “we two Snakes” however, we will <***>
Publication: DI, pp. 215–217.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Year provided by RB’s reference to Samuel Lucas’s letter in The Athenæum (see note 6 below).
2. Dante’s 600th birthday was celebrated in Florence on 14 May 1865, beginning with a procession that started at the Piazza Santo Spirito and ended at the Piazza Santa Croce, where the main ceremony was held. The “House” where Dante was born, in Via Santa Margherita, two blocks west of the Duomo, was acquired by the city of Florence that same year. It opened as the Museo Casa di Dante 100 years later.
3. In a brief report of the anniversary dinner of the Royal Academy, which took place on Saturday, 28 April, The Morning Post of 1 May 1865 (p. 2) listed some of the illustrious guests, among whom were Anthony Trollope and RB.
4. Thomas Adolpus Trollope, whose wife, Theodosia, had died the previous month. Beatrice (“Bice”) was their only child.
6. Of 29 April 1865; see SD2765.
7. The second and subsequent issues of The Shilling Magazine were published by Thomas Bosworth, 215 Regent Street. The maiden issue was apparently published by Tinsley Brothers, 18 Catherine Street, Strand (see The Athenæum of 6 May 1865, no. 1958, p. 610).
8. The closing and signature have been excised, affecting text here and below.
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