Letter from Robert Browning to Isa Blagden, Jan 28, 1860
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Robert Browning to Isa Blagden, Jan 28, 1860
Subject
Blagden, Isabella "Isa", 1816?-1873
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
Hosmer, Harriet Goodhue, 1830-1908
Friendship
Description
Robert Browning mentions Charlotte Cushman and Harriet Hosmer together, as friends of Isa Blagden.
Credit
Armstrong Browning Library - The Browning LettersCreator
Browning, Robert, 1812-1889
Source
Armstrong Browning Library, The Browning Letters, Digital Collection
Date
1860-01-28
Type
Reference
Letter Item Type Metadata
Text
[page 1] Dearest Isa,
I did not know Ba was writing two days ago or I would have slipped in my contribution. All thanks for the books which came safely. Ba has been very ill indeed but is decidedly better now,—though very weak: so long as the cough continued harassing, it was not advisable to try & strengthen her, much as she needs it—but we may begin now, little by little, and I hope the end will be her complete restoration to the state of three weeks ago: all the evil came of a silly visit we made together to Castellani’s where the famous swords were on show for the last time– I urged her to go, like the fool I was—and she caught cold on the stairs, here or there,—all which is pleasant to think of. Has she written to Dr Grisonowski to thank him for his extremely kind letter? I know she intended doing so. Love back again, twice or thrice round, & a good bit over to Miss Field,—I know Ba must have said or written that in her note to you. Are you really coming to Rome in February? That will be good indeed. Miss Cushman & Hatty always ask about you and hope to see you—I don’t see much of the latter puss,—she keeps the house, fears colds, and catches them all the same. I called
[page 2] on dear old Gibson, blue velvet cap & all, yesterday and saw his Hebe—his last work, still in progress. Talking of work, Ba’s proofs are on the road and, I expect, will arrive tomorrow: she sent off two additional poems, since the first consignment. Chapman dont say a word beyond hoping, for her sake, that the apartments in the Castle of St Angelo are comfortable: I dare say he is a rifleman, sees thro’ our astute ally, & so on—& swallows these potions of notions with a wry face. Ba don’t care,—and I think she has a right to say her say. Dear Isa,—if there is any possibility of sending my picture, don’t forget me: Mrs Stow[e] [Stowe], for instance, writes to me that she will be here early in February—but I don’t venture to ask such a favor,—only you might incidentally find out whether the trouble would be too great,—for, after all, she takes the sea. The Artist is very anxious to have the picture & finish it. Goodbye, dearest Isa: kind remembrances to the Cottrells, the Trollopes, Boot[t] & Grisonowsky & Jarves. Write and give us all the pleasure you can. Chapman says "Lytton’s poem will soon be out—but he is a terrible fellow for corrections, worse even than his father." Ever yours most affectionately, Robert Browning.
I did not know Ba was writing two days ago or I would have slipped in my contribution. All thanks for the books which came safely. Ba has been very ill indeed but is decidedly better now,—though very weak: so long as the cough continued harassing, it was not advisable to try & strengthen her, much as she needs it—but we may begin now, little by little, and I hope the end will be her complete restoration to the state of three weeks ago: all the evil came of a silly visit we made together to Castellani’s where the famous swords were on show for the last time– I urged her to go, like the fool I was—and she caught cold on the stairs, here or there,—all which is pleasant to think of. Has she written to Dr Grisonowski to thank him for his extremely kind letter? I know she intended doing so. Love back again, twice or thrice round, & a good bit over to Miss Field,—I know Ba must have said or written that in her note to you. Are you really coming to Rome in February? That will be good indeed. Miss Cushman & Hatty always ask about you and hope to see you—I don’t see much of the latter puss,—she keeps the house, fears colds, and catches them all the same. I called
[page 2] on dear old Gibson, blue velvet cap & all, yesterday and saw his Hebe—his last work, still in progress. Talking of work, Ba’s proofs are on the road and, I expect, will arrive tomorrow: she sent off two additional poems, since the first consignment. Chapman dont say a word beyond hoping, for her sake, that the apartments in the Castle of St Angelo are comfortable: I dare say he is a rifleman, sees thro’ our astute ally, & so on—& swallows these potions of notions with a wry face. Ba don’t care,—and I think she has a right to say her say. Dear Isa,—if there is any possibility of sending my picture, don’t forget me: Mrs Stow[e] [Stowe], for instance, writes to me that she will be here early in February—but I don’t venture to ask such a favor,—only you might incidentally find out whether the trouble would be too great,—for, after all, she takes the sea. The Artist is very anxious to have the picture & finish it. Goodbye, dearest Isa: kind remembrances to the Cottrells, the Trollopes, Boot[t] & Grisonowsky & Jarves. Write and give us all the pleasure you can. Chapman says "Lytton’s poem will soon be out—but he is a terrible fellow for corrections, worse even than his father." Ever yours most affectionately, Robert Browning.
From
Browning, Robert, 1812-1889
To
Blagden, Isabella "Isa", 1816?-1873
Location
Via del Tritone 28, Rome, Italy
Geocode (Latitude)
41.9020514
Geocode (Longitude)
12.4824754
Annotations
[Digitization Note] Blagden album; From Album titled "Robert Browning. Poet. Story of his Platonic Friendship with Miss Isa Blagden. Contained in a long series of Autograph letters from the poet to his friend."
Provenance
Social Bookmarking
Collection
Citation
Browning, Robert, 1812-1889, “Letter from Robert Browning to Isa Blagden, Jan 28, 1860,” Archival Gossip Collection, accessed April 24, 2024, https://archivalgossip.com/collection/items/show/609.