SD2474. Isa Blagden to Sophia Eckley

Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 295–296.

[Florence]

July 13th 1861

Dear Mrs Eckley,

Had I known your address, I would have written to you, & I lose no time now, having had your letter this moment. It is quite true, that this great loss has deprived all who revered & adored goodness and genius of the one Being who expressed their perfect union on Earth.

All who loved her must mourn, but what are the regrets of friends to the sorrow of the husband she so worshipped & who so worshipped her. I can not think of anyone else. She died on the 29th of June at ½ past four A.M. after a week’s illness. Congestion of the lungs was the immediate cause. She did not suffer, but fell asleep as it were in her husband’s arms, who as usual whenever she was ill, had never left her, though neither he nor anyone else could have anticipated the end. It is an unspeakable comfort to me that she herself was also unconscious of it, as it spared her the pain of the idea of approaching separation. I think the death of Cavour and the severe heat during the last week previous to her attack had <hurt> her much, but after all it is useless to seek for causes. It is enough that it was the will of God that she should go to Him & leave us. I am going to England next week– Mr Browning & Pen go to Paris as soon as Mr B. has settled his affairs in Casa Guidi. He does not return to stay. Pen is quite well and very good. He takes such care of his Papa. Mr Browning is bearing his grief in the manliest & noblest way as she would have wished him to do.

Yrs truly

Isa Blagden

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library

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