SD2288. Robert Landor to Sophia Landor
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 363–364 (in part).
Rugeley
13 Septr 1859
My dear Cousin,
Whoever consents to be Executor to your Uncle Walter, consents also, I expect, to be dragged into a Law Suit. However as far as I am concerned being already in the toils of the Court of Chancery, I don’t know that my being Executor would make matters much worse to myself.–
It is important that your Uncle should leave as little as possible—and as regards pictures &c I should strongly recommend him to give them away in his lifetime or to sell them & live on the proceeds—
We must bear in mind that every man must pay his debts, before he can make presents by his Will, and therefore the Yescombe’s will have a prior claim to Legatees—hence the importance of disposing of the pictures &c in his lifetime–
My opinion is that the best plan would probably be for Mr Browning & myself to be appointed Executors—& then if the little property left were all in Italy Mr Browning could settle matters on the spot, & it would be very difficult for the Yescombes to attack him there. If it should be necessary for any thing to be done in England I would act, but I should propose not to do so unless absolutely necessary–
I quite concur that only one Executor is really necessary & I do not anticipate more than one acting—but as the little property which may be left will probably be wholly in Italy it appears desirable to have some one there empowered to take possession of it, & to prevent perhaps its falling into hands not intended to have it.
I am assuming of course, that Mr Browning is intending to remain in Italy–
I think the Will should be executed in duplicate one part being kept in Italy & the other sent to England. The last sentence of the draft Will I prepared should have the addition of the words I now underline viz: “In witness whereof I have hereunder and also to a duplicate hereof set my hand this day of 1859.”
I received a letter yesterday from your Uncle Walter ackg the receipt of the £25 I sent– I was glad to perceive that the letter was written in a much calmer frame of mind than previous communication displayed—& he mentions Mr Brownlow who appears to be acting very kindly & judiciously–
If he shod write again to me for money, may I refer him to Mr Brownlow?–
My Father will of course look out for a large bag of game next week from the Edge Hill preserves–
And with kind regards to yourself & Mr Henry Landor in which my Wife desires to join,
I remain
Yours very truly
Robert Landor
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Yale University.
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