SD2538. Sarianna Browning to Euphrasia Fanny Haworth
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 319–320 (in part).
151, rue de Grenelle St Gern
Nov. 5th [1861] [1]
My dearest Fanny,
I was so very glad to hear from you, for my conscience smote me for not writing; but I was deterred by your giving me a lawyer’s address in London, and feeling as if I had nothing to say worth such formidable means of transmitting. Poor Robert arrived the beginning of August, looking wretchedly changed and crushed—suffering evidently from congestion of the brain, and in fact so ill that it was quite impossible for him to go on to Miss Barrett as he had intended, but he went at once with my father and myself to a wild secluded spot on the sea coast of Brittany, where we stayed about seven weeks. The absolute quiet and seclusion, joined to the fresh sea air did him good, he walked for hours every day, though often the only food of any kind he tasted was a little milk. Pen had his pony with him, and took lessons in swimming; he is looking very well, though all his curls are cropped off and he is dressed like an ordinary little boy—he always avoids mentioning his mother; I think he has been frightened by the effect it produced on his papa– Robert however talks freely of her; when alone with me he would talk of her incessantly for hours, and I was glad of it, as it seemed to relieve his poor brimming brain and bursting heart. Now he is gone to London and has taken apartments in Upper Westbourne Terrace, close to Arabel, which is a great advantage for Pen. He is occupied with the child’s education, and also preparing a new edition of Ba’s poems– The whole of the former edition was exhausted within a few days of her death. You know how well the Florentines have honoured her memory; how the Municipality voted that a tablet should be placed over Casa Guidi with an inscription, and how they are trying to get a monument for her in Santa Croce.
Miss Blagden threw up her Villa in Florence, not being able to live in the place without Ba, and is now in England. I have very little Paris news for you, but I wish you were here. Miss Blackwell is somewhere in Italy; she was off in a violent hurry to the Florence exhibition. Miss Church is still here, but has some thoughts of going on to Rome. I hear that poor Mrs MacKenzie suffers greatly with her eyes. I am glad to hear that Mr Stillman is appointed consul at Rome; at present he is in America. Mr Milsand is still in Burgundy; he has been away all the summer.
We are looking forward to a visit from Robt & Pen at Christmas or thereabouts. Ba’s youngest brother has just lost his wife, who died in her confinement, poor thing. Now write and tell me how you go on: send the phot: are we not all hideous in the sun’s eyes? Particularly tell me if you got your money from America. What a state the States are in! I was so uneasy about your funds.
Affectly
S.B.
Publication: American Notes and Queries, 28 December 1889, p. 190 (in part).
Manuscript: Manuscripts Division, New York Public Library.
1. Year provided by references to RB’s movements after EBB’s death.
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