SD2762. Sarianna Browning to Joseph Milsand
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 319 (in part).
151, rue de Grenelle St Gern
April 4th [1865] [1]
My dear Mr Milsand,
Your letter was very welcome, for I began to feel anxious to have some tidings of you. I fear that your health will not be much strengthened by your visit to Dijon,—but that is unavoidable. In Paris the weather was horridly cold, with storms of snow and hail, till Saturday, when it rained in torrents the whole day but with a milder temperature– Since then, it has been delightful, though the air is still cold enough not to make the change too sudden. I am very glad the little dog is a decided success, spite of your superior wisdom,—and if, as I hope, the little creature is not above the weakness of being affectionate and playful and caressing, you will see what an amusement he will be in the household– Your old nurse will love him all the more for the trouble he gives her. I wish I had such a plaything! I saw the Corkrans once or twice last week, and spent a long Saturday with them. Henrietta has cut off her hair, and wears it in the present poodle-dog fashion—she says, because it was falling off. She tells me Mr North Peat has had a fall getting out of a cab, and injured his other knee, which he fears, will now be as lame as the one he broke many years ago. Mr Corkran has bought the furniture for his new house, with which he seems much pleased: it is a small villa, detached, with a little garden. William is to go to London first, on Saturday, to escort the baggage, and Mrs Corkran and the girls will follow on Monday. I do not think I shall go there again,—saying goodbye is very painful, and their departure will be a great loss to me. Sutton seems getting on extremely well: he is in the department of the coins and medals, and has been working hard to acquire the Russian language that he may be able to classify some Russian coins under his care. Panizzi, the head man, told him the other day to go on learning all he could, and it should be remembered whenever an opportunity of promotion occurred. I am sorry that Cobden is dead,—he was always kind to the Corkrans, and had it in his power to be of use. I went with my father to the Pourtalès collection, on the two remaining days of exhibition: the first day was for the modern pictures, the second for the ancient—we saw them very well, though the crowd was unpleasant. By the way, will you be so kind as to look for the woodcut of Muller’s Gaming table—if it exists. The picture was not in the last year’s exhibition, but I think in the one before. I have not seen the Gurneys,—I called, but the concierge said they did not receive. I hear that the chapel funds are at the lowest possible ebb, and that Archer Gurney has made an appeal to public generosity, in the newspapers. I suppose you saw the result of Colenso’s appeal—it is characteristically English—our Law is foggier than our climate– The decision is that the Queen’s government has no right whatever to appoint Bishops in those independent colonies that have not requested to be under our spiritual jurisdiction, and Natal is of the number– As this unsettles a great many matters, the Privy Council is going to debate what is to be done. I had a letter from Robert last week—he & Pen have both had colds. Pen’s is better, Robt’s very bad—he says it makes him see everything en noir, but that he hopes to come over at Easter, and will certainly bring your commissions. I feel as if I were not sure of him. Octavius Barrett is going to be married to a cousin of Henry B’s wife—to Arabel’s great delight. Robert offers to send me, if I think them worth having, some numbers of the Pall Mall Gazette which the editor politely sends to him. I accepted, and a few have reached me (one has evidently been stopped at the Post Office—torn off.) It appears to be a journal something like the Saturday Review, conducted, I fancy, by the “Punch” proprietors. I will send them to you, if you care to have them. My German teacher has just left me—she was not successful in her endeavours to obtain the situation at Montrouge, the lady required a native of England. I am sorry that she does not get on better, and suppose she will be obliged to leave Paris, where I am unfortunately her only pupil. Yesterday I saw Miss Darley, who continues to receive good news from Dublin, and afterwards I went to Miss Riches– There I was introduced to her young nieces from England, now on a visit to Paris and their Aunts; they were fine looking girls, and I was informed they were ardent admirers of my brother’s; always buying his poems and his photographs—they do not know him personally.
This moment the first no. of Moxon’s Selection arrives. I see much has been omitted from the proof-sheet of the cover which Robt sent me last week—it was to end with “By the Fireside”—perhaps it may be in the next number. Robt has sent two copies—so I suppose one is for you, his beloved, and I will forward it.
My father enjoys this change in the weather, and stays out book-hunting for hours. Now don’t be lazy, but write. I am obliged to leave off now—(is not my letter long enough) so good-bye for the present. If my father were at home he would send his kindest remembrance–
Ever yours affectionately,
S. Browning.
Address: Monsieur / Milsand, / Dijon. / Côte d’Or.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Joseph Milsand Archive.
1. Year provided by reference to A Selection from the Works of Robert Browning, Edward Moxon & Co., 1865.
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