BIB_ID
402741
Accession number
MA 2148.54
Creator
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett, 1806-1861.
Display Date
[1860] September [6].
Credit line
Acquired from the University of Illinois, 1961.
Description
1 item (8 pages) ; 19.2 x 12.3 cm + envelope
Notes
Year and date of writing determined from postmarks and internal evidence. See the published edition of the correspondence and the checklist, cited below, for additional information.
EBB gives the place of writing as "Villa Alberti."
Envelope with stamp and postmarks addressed to: "Angleterre viâ France/ George G. Moulton Barrett Esqre/ Stoke Court/ Taunton/ Somersetshire."
The last part of the letter is written on the inside flap of the envelope.
EBB gives the place of writing as "Villa Alberti."
Envelope with stamp and postmarks addressed to: "Angleterre viâ France/ George G. Moulton Barrett Esqre/ Stoke Court/ Taunton/ Somersetshire."
The last part of the letter is written on the inside flap of the envelope.
Provenance
Acquired from the University of Illinois, 1961.
Summary
Writing about her sister Henrietta's illness: "Be sure that, while I pass for being away from you all, I am with you in my soul; in my power of loving & suffering--Tell my precious sister this--that I am with her--with her--that I love her, not as much, but more than I ever did--& that I kiss her with an infinite tenderness, soul to soul, through this distance--"; telling George that she is glad that he and the other siblings, including Arabella and "Stormie" (Charles John), are with Henrietta now and sending them her love; discussing the military movements around them and across Italy at the moment; mentioning that Carlo Matteucci ("one of the deputation to Napoleon on behalf of Tuscany last October... & a first rate man") lives near them and they hear updates on the situation from his wife; discussing the possibility that La Moricière, at the head of the Papal Army, will attack the Neapolitan States, the party of Mazzini's supporters ("insignificant... but rampant for mischief"), and the character of Garibaldi ("Garibaldi is a hero, & great is his work, yes, and single is his aim in doing it--But with all that, he is too easily influenced..."); recounting a conversation between Louis Napoleon and the Tuscan deputation (Neri Corsini, Carlo Matteucci, and Ubaldino Peruzzi) about the annexation of Savoy, as relayed by Madame Matteucci; sending news of Pen's education and his interest in the political situation: "You would be amused to hear him talk Italian politics--he traces Garibaldi's advances step by step as the telegrams announce them--& he has all the names of Italian leaders on the tip of his tongue--I cant help smiling sometimes"; asking about Henrietta's medical care and about what is being done for her children and husband; adding (at the top of the first page) that the situation has escalated: "If I had not recd your letter yesterday, I could not today. Railroads all occupied by troops--No passage for anybody, or for newspapers or letters. It is said we are to have fighting directly--but there's mystery--May God save Italy."
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