5999. RB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 282–283.
[London]
Dec: 31. ’67.
Dearest Isa,
I can’t let the month go out without writing: I know some accident must have happened to your letter,—it has in some way missed me: and, as I could not guess where you might be,—not in Lucca, certainly, but whether in Rome or Florence, who shall say,—I did not send a letter wandering: but now W. Bracken says you are at Florence & Bello Sguardo again! [1] At any rate, I cast these few lines on the waters, [2] & if they are lost, no harm,—indeed, if they are found, and tell you I wish you all good things in the coming year,—what use?—I tell you what you know so well.
Letters rarely miss one,—I don’t well remember I ever lost one of yours before. At least, you got my last letter of last month, did you not? Pen is back for the holidays, having done very well indeed at Oxford: he will matriculate next Term & reside forthwith. He is growing into manly & intellectual shape, & Jowett wrote very kindly about it to me. My sister is quite well.
I have arranged with Smith & Elder for a new edition of my works: I told you about the all but conclusion with Chapman, I think. Smith gives me exactly five times as much for an edition, [3] —an arrangement which is preferable. Chapman’s behaviour was characteristic to the last: he apprised me “he had fifty-copies on hand” (as it was stipulated he should, it being a bad thing to let a book get quite out of print.) I sent for one of these copies (to reprint by)—no answer,—at last I sent a servant to bring one,—then came the avowal—all were gone. What do you say to that? I am well rid of such a publisher, I think.
Will you tell Cottrell, that I have twice seen Layard about his picture: [4] that Layard intreated me so earnestly not to send it yet to Christie & Mansons [5] till he could return from a journey and do something for it, that I could not but keep it,—(I was on the way to C & M.) Layard says, in the first place, a sale before the season would be a farce: and when he returns,—by then, of course,—he will try hard & get the picture sold,—I really believe he can, and I certainly will keep him up to his good intentions. It will be well worth waiting if we double the price thereby. Tell Cottrell this, with my best love.
Good bye & God bless you, dearest Isa!
Publication: DI, pp. 286–287.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
2. Cf. Ecclesiastes 11:1—“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.”
3. £600 (see letter 5973, note 3), indicating that RB received £120 for Poetical Works (1865). See also letter 6008, where RB arrives at £120 via a different route.
5. The auctioneering firm of Christie, Manson and Woods at 8 King Street, St. James’s Square (see letter 5198, note 1).
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