SD2866. Sarianna Browning to Joseph Milsand
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 356 (in part).
[London]
Jany 12. [1867] [1]
My dear Friend,
Several small causes have prevented my writing sooner—principally that this my little den wherein I write was for two days in an uninhabitable state, owing to a waterpipe of the cistern at the top of the house having burst from frost; I was afraid the corner of the wall was damp, and had all the pictures taken down, and the room aired.
Thank you for your nice letter. Did the second pudding turn out well? I said, or ought to have said, the brandy was placed in a lemon rind, not orange. I wish Claire had some of our mince pies, as she likes our national dishes—she should have had plum pudding in old days, had I known of her existence. I have not much to say of ourselves. The weather changed suddenly from hard frost to spring warmth, and the streets were a mass of melted snow. Now the frost is come back again though not so severe. I went to see the skating on the Serpentine, but all my admiration was absorbed by the beauty of the large trees in Hyde Park, every branch and twig sparkling with icicles.
Nothing strikes me more than the civility of the lower classes in London. I was alone in the middle of the “roughs” round the ice, and met with the greatest goodnature. Willy skated for two days so vehemently that he sprained his ankle and was confined to the house for several days, he can only limp now, but is going out rowing this morning with Pen.
I dined on Tuesday with Rt & Pen, at the Benzons’. Robt accepted the invitation in my name, and I could not refuse: two pleasant Americans were there. Robt dines there again to-day—he dined yesterday with Lady William– She has always much to interest one. She showed Rt a letter she received about a year ago from the Express [sic] of Mexico, with whom she is very intimate, having known the Emperor ever since his childhood: the poor Empress then spoke most hopefully of their future prospects, now so changed. Rt said the letter was written in excellent English. You see how the Pope is going on now that the French are withdrawn: forbidding the Presbyterian little chapel after six years’ tolerance. The Pope applied again to our Govt to know if he could have Malta as a residence, but this time he was refused, our Gn replying that circumstances were now changed, and his safety had been guaranteed. Admiral Telverton who has the command of the Channel Fleet, and who, by the way, very kindly invited Pen to his ship, told this little story which I give for Claire’s entertainment. One of the sheep taken on board his ship as live stock, became such a favourite with the sailors that when its turn (delayed as long as possible) came for being slaughtered, the men all put their heads together and composed the following letter to the Admiral duly signed and presented. “Please, Sir, don’t kill poor Jack.” The Admiral granted the request, and the sheep now two years old has remained on board, the pet and plaything of the crew. He is enormously fat, but goes through all sorts of exercises at the word of command—when a gale comes on, he folds his legs under him, and makes himself into a ball to avoid the rough motion, and wisely remains curled up till the wind abates.
I have had a very kind letter from Miss Magee which I will answer—her mother’s health is somewhat better. I have not seen the Corkrans for the reason I gave. I will call there on Sunday afternoon. She wrote and begged me not to tell Sutton of her engagement at Rothschild’s—if he really objects, it is a contemptible piece of bad sense and wrong principle; but that is our old reproach against the Irish—that they think begging more honourable than work. I have heard from Me Dumangin at Madrid—the stamps reached her safely. The young girl Marie has been ill at school with inflamed sorethroat but is recovering. I had a letter from Miss Haworth—she says her brother Frederick is settled in Paris, but does not allude to his losses—probably it is a “rum” like the Nixon one—compatible with all kinds of elegancies. I know little or nothing of the brother who (entre nous) is said to be a supercilious dandy. Please tell me the Number of Miss H’s address—rue de la Pompe. Anne Thackeray was too unwell to appear at her own (joint) Ball. Miss Blackwell wrote to me, & I answered her kind letter.
Thank you very much for telling me of the over-weight: the man of whom I bought the paper had wrongly informed us. We have a letter-weigher down stairs, but it does not seem to harmonize with the Post Office. When shall I visit Paris? I don’t know. Trifles seem in the way, and it appears absurd not to wait for the Exhibition. I care very little for the Exhibition but very much for seeing you. How glad I should be to have a long gossip with you! I miss you so much. Of course, you would have told me had my obligation drawn the first prize. I have divers old lottery tickets somewhere. I will look them out and give you the numbers. If ever I gain a prize, I shall come over to take possession—but don’t engage a room for me on the strength of it! I have been hunting everywhere for the volume of B. Painter’s containing Blake’s life (Allan Cunningham’s) it is missing. I am sure I saw it somewhere.
Best of love from Robert, Pen & Owly– My kind love to Claire. I send an Ill. N. & Ath:m By the way, Rt saw by accident Macmillan the publisher, who instantly pounced on the subject of the new poem—he said if R. would publish it in his Mag: he would give him twelve hundred pounds—not interfering in any way with the subsequent publication: he seemed disposed to give even higher, but Rt said it did not meet his plans. He is working at it, and it will soon be ready, I believe. Write soon.
Tell me how your own work progresses.
I think the black-edged paper <…> [2]
Address: France. / Monsieur Milsand. / 31, rue Perronet / Neuilly. / près Paris.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Joseph Milsand Archive.
1. Year provided by postmark.
2. The conclusion, written in the throat of the envelope, is missing as the result of the stamps being excised.
___________________
