SD2780. Sarianna Browning to Joseph Milsand
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 323–324 (in part).
chez M. Laraison.
Maire de Ste. Marie.
près Pornic.
Loire Inférieure.
Aug. 6th [1865] [1]
My dear Mr Milsand,
Our letters cross each other: yours reached me yesterday, you must have had mine at about the same time. Strictly speaking it is not my turn to write—but some of the old feeling that you will like to hear from me comes over me. And then I want to point out to your notice that this month’s (the 1st’s) Fortnightly Review has an article by Archer Gurney, entitled “France as it is”– I have read the article, but don’t know whether it is good or not: there are very many opinions expressed with which I should disagree—but I have lost faith in my own power of reading characters, and confess I am not a good judge– One sentence pleases me, and therefore I quote it—he says, after speaking of French writers & critics, and enumerating their names and qualities—“and last not least, J Milsand one of the most original of France’s living thinkers; he has published admirable studies of our R. Browning, disquisitions on Ruskin and Art, and powerfully condemnatory notes of the French revolution, from what I may almost call an English point of view.” I believe the review is having a good success.
We are all quite well—don’t let me forget to say, as I shall if I don’t say it at once, that there seems some hitch in our Pall Malls for they have not made their appearance, and I am afraid I cannot now be quite so punctual in sending them, as we are obliged to lend them to Mrs Bracken who is now here; but you shall have whatever I have got the moment she returns it. She & Willy arrived on Friday night—they travelled via St Malo, Rennes, & Nantes,—having touched at Jersey and Guernsey. He is grown a great boy much taller than Pen. The house at Ste Marie which they used to occupy is let,—and they have taken another—a horrid little place, Mrs Bracken tells us, just near us: it is quite a sacrifice on her part, poor woman, as she is sick of this quiet place, and hates roughing it: but she is a very generous and self-sacrificing mother—rather too much so—and the two boys are never happy apart. I am satisfied with Pen—and so is Robert on the whole, though he is apt to get nervous & overanxious. With regard to Oxford, or Bal[l]iol rather, as that is the rub, Professor Jowett who saw his exercises says he can be ready if he tries—he has a good knowledge of Greek & Latin Syntax—he knows already quite as much mathematics as are required—his one great fault is that he cannot be got to take any interest in his studies—he does what is required, that is all. It is very provoking—for he could do it easily if he made an effort. If he would but care for learning, as he does for boating, all would be well– His rowing performances, Mrs Bracken tells me, are really extraordinary—a crowd of people are watching him from the shore. As for the boy’s moral qualities, Robert is very well satisfied—he is an honest truthful boy, with a quick perception of right and wrong. Very shrewd in his judgments. His grave tutor told Robert that the most singular thing about the boy was his temper—during the four years he had been learning, he had never once given his master a hasty reply. Robert himself is in excellent health and spirits—he loves this place in the most alarming manner—we have little chance of getting away from it—and I like it too—the sea and air are perfection. Not a nail or shred has been touched since we were here—the only thing they have mended is the fine antique old church—they have smoothed down the carved works and plastered it over. My father’s heart is pierced by this Vandalism. Our poor little dog, my pet, is just dead—stung by a serpent. Pen is miserable about his papa who will go, as he says, kissing those horrid brutes. Pen has an Italian dread of serpents. We all of us send our love. Pen is plaguing to go to the Baths, or I should write more. I have not heard from the Corkrans. Give my love to Claire—and present my compliments to your wife.
Ever yours–
S.B.
There is a very good novel of Trollope’s going on in the Fortnightly.
Address: Monsieur Milsand. / Maison François Meriel. / St Aubin sur. Mer. / par Caen. / Calvados.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Joseph Milsand Archive.
1. Year provided by postmark.
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