SD2093. Anna Brownell Jameson to Bessie Rayner Parkes
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 24, 264 (in part).
Casa Guidi
Via Maggio
1902
July 14 1857
My dear Bessie—
I was very glad to have your letter of the 27th of last month– I was beginning to be rather anxious about you—with regard to the principal subject of your letter I can only assure you that if ever it be possible for me to be of use to Mrs. Hay—I will do what I can for your sake—but I have little hope for her—nor will you, I fear, prevent her from sinking lower—what can you do with or for, a woman who has been “badly educated”—who has a “violent temper”—no principles & who has broken her bond with society?—such women are sneeringly called “the strong minded”—who show they have no strength—no patience—no self-controul [sic]—no elevating sense of duty, duty to be done—to be held to—while there is life—“quand |enérue|—one can only feel shame & pity.—& help—if one can & if there be a struggle for good– I hear nothing of her at Florence except from Mrs. B & Miss Blagden—neither of them likely to be cruel or to exaggerate. I am afraid your friend in Piedmont can do nothing—we are all very uneasy about her—seeing & knowing what has been around me here & at Rome I deem nothing so mad & so bad as these wretched attempts at disturbance—which end in strengthening the present system of things & drive the thoughtful & the hopeful to despair—but of this I must say no more.
I am longing to see your first Waverley—get the help and the sympathy of good and intelligent men & do not feminise your journal too much—if you do—it will break down—what you say of dear Barbara & her hopes of happiness—& the character of her husband is all of course of the deepest interest to me—perhaps she will go to America in the same vessel with Hatty—pray write to me again & tell me how the marriage went off—my most kind regards to Mary Merryweather—of myself I can only say that I am much better than when I arrived here– Florence agrees with me better than Rome—which seemed slowly killing me. Mrs Browning is better but suffers from the intense heat which is literally burning—but not oppressive as at Rome—what is said in England about this horrible Glasgow trial?—except from the meagre garbled papers of Calignani I know nothing.
I fancy you very very busy—& usefully busy—but when you can spare me a moment pray do—my best regards to Mrs Parkes—& think of me dear Bessie as always
yours AJ
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Girton College.
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