SD2819. Lady William Russell to William Cornwallis Cartwright
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 345–346 (in part).
[London]
[ca. March 1866]
<***> consequently only begin their operations on the 5th of April —— which makes me reckon on the 15th as the accomplishment when I shall be delighted to see you again —— I am very much obliged to you for the good news ünberüfer of my darling Odo’s health—mine is as must be expected at 72 with broken bones & inactivity — — — in a Damp climate after an extra damp year —— I am much weaker & I suffer daily Pain —— I fondly imagine & am universally told — — — that a dry atmosphere & a total change of Food, might relieve me? —— I am sorry good Mrs Payne thinks you have been naughty!! I must ask Clementia confidentially what you have been about? — — — which of the Cardinal-virtues you have given up? &c &c — — — I hear often from that excellent person, but never a hint against any body — — — only Eulogia of the Antomines — — — — — Marcus & Pius– The State machines seem every where out of order?— Madme Mohl wrote a most convulsing Letter to Ly Salisbury about France[.]
Your Friend Browning was reproach’d by a former bürgerlicher güter freünd — — — at having become vornehms & zü adelig in his ümgang —— he answer’d that he only went in to that Society to be of use to his Son, whom he meant to put into Diplomacy — —
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His father was a Clerk at a London Bank & his Father-in-law a Physician in Herefordshire, I have been told by 2 individuals who knew both—the Doctor rich and the Clerk poor— I think his Sons Career — — if he has the Wits of his Father & Mother (young Browning I mean) had best be a Lawyer? -- if a common Place intellect — — — a Parson? but diplomacy does not answer in his Line of Life? Diplomacy is not lucrative but oppressive to People without connexions — — — the Consular Line for Snobs is respectable & profitable — — ? — but Diplomacy seems the Theban Legion of Gentlemen, born & bred? —— nach meiner dümmen meinüng? —— Mrs [illegible word] took a Son from the Counter behind which he would have grown rich as Rothschild perhaps — — — & made a pauper attaché of him, universally ridiculed — — — — &c &c &c ————
Poor Browning is a point de succès himself although a Genius — — but his Peacock Voice & cock-sparrow manners injure his cause.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Northamptonshire Record Office.
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