SD2519. Isa Blagden to Margherita Albana-Mignaty
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 314 (in part).
[Durdham Down]
Septr 22nd [1861] [1]
My dear Maga, I wrote you half a sheet in a letter to Mrs Trollope which I hope you received and that you will soon write to me. I am here, Belgrave House, Durdham, nr Bristol till the 9th October, then care of Miss E Alexander Stone House nr Broadstairs Kent till I settle for the winter in London. I am going to spend the winter there, for I do not think I could afford a journey back to Italy & furnish a house this year when I have had already so many expenses. That must be for next year. How are you after the hot summer. I fear it has fried you but I trust the weather is cool now and that you are all breathing again. How are Mons Mignaty & Aspasia? Give them both my love. Poor Mrs Jarves! I am glad she is at rest. What a long struggle between life and death. Where is Mr Jarves & Chevy? I suppose they will all go to America. If you see Mr Jarves remember me kindly to him. Also to Dr Grisanowski, if he has returned from Rome. I hope you are all contented with your exhibition. I read the Times diligently to hear all about it. It seems so strange not to hear about Italy and Italian politics. Unless I commence the subject, few people speak about it. But my heart is true to Italy and to all Italian topics so I make the people talk about them. I sent your parcel a day or two after my arrival in London. You must always tell me if I can do anything for you in London. You must let me know if that Miss Leigh Smith who wants to paint in Mr Mignaty’s studio turns up in Florence. She belongs to a clever family I believe though I do not know her myself. Remember your promise of your photograph. I think it a great shame that you should not be in my book. I met the other day, a lady who knew Helen & Elizabeth Black, she told me Elizabeth had been ill, too ill to continue her studies at the ladies college but she was better. I have seen nothing of them. The distances are so great that people in London are more divided from each other than people at Pisa are from those at Florence; for it takes hours to get across from part to part, and Harrow in spite of the railroad is an impossibility.
I do not know if you have ever been to this part of England. The scenery is beautiful, such woods and green meadows, and lovely valleys with grey old houses nestled in them and the Severn & Bristol channel beyond. If the Italian Sky was over the earth it would be perfect but it sadly needs brightness and a clear atmosphere. I am very much struck in England with the improvement in three things, flowers, plate glass, and gas. You cannot think how universally beautiful gardens are, in London. All one side of Hyde Park near Park Lane has been converted into the most lovely gardens; absolutely carpeted with scarlet geraniums. The smallest house blazes with gas in passages rooms & nurseries and the plate glass gives a brightness to the rooms of the poorest people.
Mr Browning is to be in London next week but I shall not see him for a fortnight as I have engagements here till the 9th. From his letters I should judge he was calmer and more resigned but evidently very desolate and restless. I wonder whether he will be able to make himself happier in London than he did at Paris. There is the chance of its having no such sad associations for in London he lived as a bachelor. How is Mons. Villari? Well I hope. I am afraid he did not like my book as he never wrote to me about it. My next will be better. I have not been writing at it however. I have been so gay, out almost every evening since I have been at Clifton. I know if I did not go Miss Cobbe would insist upon staying at home with me and as that would be too bad, I go but it is often a great exertion. My heart feels heavy at times thinking of absent friends, and of those whose loss has changed the whole world to me and yet it would be ungracious not to accept all the kindness heaped upon one. Ask M Mignaty if he remembers a Mrs Swyny, [2] a young widow who had a beautiful figure & who lived at Villa Giglioni with her brother & sister Mr & Mrs Biederman when the Morses were there. She is just going to be married. Is your friend the Duchess at Turin[?] If you write to her remember me to her. Do not forget me, & believe that I often think and speak of you all.
Yours affly
Isa.
If you see Mrs Crossman and Annie, give them my love.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze.
1. Year determined by Isa’s reference to RB’s projected first arrival in London (which occurred 27 September 1861) after EBB’s death, and by Isa’s reference to the previous letter.
2. On 1 October 1861, at Ramoan, co. Antrim, Capt. John Innes Robinson, Bengal Cavalry, married Bertha, widow of Col. Swyny, C.B., H.M.’s 63rd Regt., and dau. of the late Rev. G.A. Biedermann, M.A., Rector of Dauntsey, Wilts, (Gentleman’s Magazine).
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