SD2303. Sophia Landor to Walter Savage Landor
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 27, 337 (in part).
3. Belmont. [Bath]
14th Novr /59
My dear Uncle
I received your letter a few days ago[.] I am inexpressibly shocked at the account it contains of your wife & family. It is difficult to believe that children cld treat a Parent as yours have treated you; & from what you have revealed to me, I fear it is but the climax of a life of sin & disgrace, such as I shudder to think of. Let us pray that they may have grace to repent, before it is too late: & I entreat of you to have pity on them & not expose to others conduct so shocking & disgraceful. I beg you to spare us also, such dreadful revelations: they are your children, let us think of them as best we can, or strive to forget them. It must indeed be a crushing grief to you, but in the excellent Mr Browning you have found such a friend as few possess: in him you will find consolation. We are very glad to hear that he has placed you in comfortable Lodgings & found for you so valuable an attendent. A short time ago, I received a letter from Mr B. about your will, in which he mentions that you had wished to present your pictures to him, but that it was impossible for him to accept them. The way in whh he speaks of it, leads me to apprehend that he will feel it equally impossible to receive them after your death; if such shld be the case, I shall be greatly embarrassed as to the disposal of them, unless you will be so good as to tell me what you wld wish done with them, if Mr B. still finds that he cannot accept them. They shall be first presented to him, & if he accepts them, I shall be happy, but if he does not, to whom wld you wish them to be given? Perhaps you have friends in Florence among whom you wld divide them & who wld value them for your sake. Perhaps Mr B. wld receive one; tho’ not all, if so which wld you prefer for him. I am sorry to trouble you about this, but trust you will perceive it is only from anxiety to fulfil your wishes to the uttermost. <***>
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Huntington Library.
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