11 January [1849]. Browning, Elizabeth Barrett ; Browning, Robert [In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s hand]

              Florence.

Jany 11th

Dear Mr Ware, Pray dont let it be ‘Sir & Madam’ any more- We have received both your letters & thank you much for them, & would have answered the first, only for the fear of not finding you in Rome & for the hope of seeing you in Florence which you held out as a pleasant affirmative through all the negatives-but now, see, how you disappoint us altogether! Yet the news of your health is so welcome, that we cant be sorry to have this note from Turin- May you grow better & better, & we be so joyful as to know it-there, is a new year’s wish both for yourself & us!- Also, if another wish may follow .. do stay in England till after May, when perhaps, perhaps, we shall be visiting England too-we should be delighted to catch sight of you once more in this old world of ours-

On receiving your letter from Rome I wrote directly to make the necessary enquiries about the Dutch Baron, & I shall transcribe the instructions sent to me by my cousin, to whom, without mentioning names, the enquiries were addressed. “Your friend need not go to Holland. Let him write to the apothecary whose address I send, stating his age, the length of time he has had the attacks, & whether they are hereditary. He should not live very well, never eat veal nor pork, .. not any part of a pig-never drink spirits of any sort, but a couple of glasses either of sherry or good claret. No coffee. He should take regular & moderate exercise, avoid as much as possible all recourse to aperient medecines; sleep with his head very high & without bedcurtains, & take the powders that will be sent, morning and evening, or only in the evening, (let him ask that question). The powders are expensive:-he had better send for enough for three months. The apothecary’s address is,

 

G Bisschop

Pharmacier Chimiste

Flurrule Burgwal L103.

À la Haye-”