SD1578. Walter Richard Cassels to David Holt
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 18, 365–366 (in part).
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May 25, 1852
… How I wish you had been with me in Florence—that was a visit that will be for ever memorable in my life …
As you may imagine, I made a point of looking out for the Casa Guidi. I had infinite difficulty in accomplishing anything, but at last by dint of great perserverance I discovered the famous windows. The house is very near the Pitti Palace, in another street but with an opening nearly opposite, by squinting round the corner of which it is just possible to get a glimpse of the palace. At the back of the Pitti are the beautiful and very extensive Boboli gardens, the most delightful spot you can conceive, and freely open to the public, which can be reached from the Casa Guidi in about one minute. The house is a very nice one, and is in the street called Via Maggio. In Italy, houses are numbered right on through all the streets of a quarter, and the number of this one, for your edification, is 1902. I hoped to catch a glimpse of the Brownings, but in vain. At last I thought by way of making sure that I had found the right house I would ask the porter whether they lived there. He said “Yes,” but they were then in Paris (I suppose returning from England) and were expected every day. I look at the arrivals here by steamers from Genoa every day, but have not yet seen them mentioned. However, they misspell English names so outrageously, and there are other routes to Florence [so] that they may have returned without my knowledge. Florence is so large a place and there are so many English that an introduction of oneself is impossible, therefore cast about, like a good fellow, and see whether you cannot by some means or other get me a letter to them. I am trying also, but have not yet succeeded …
I was very sorry they were not at home, as I might have caught a glimpse of the fair author of “Lady Geraldine”! but better luck next time.
Text: The Cornhill Magazine, January 1924, pp. 98–99.
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