[19] Mrs. Jameson's _Legends of the Madonna_. [20] General Franklin Pierce. [21] 'Tamerton Church Tower, and other Poems.' [22] In a letter to Miss Mitford, written four days later than this, Mrs. Browning alludes again to the performance of 'Colombe's Birthday:' 'Yes--Robert's play succeeded, but there could be no "run" for a play of that kind; it was a _succès d'estime_ and something more, which is surprising, perhaps, considering the miserable acting of the men. Miss Faucit was alone in doing us justice.' [23] A few lines have been cut off the letter at this place. [24] A letter to the _Athenæum_ on July 2, 1853, giving the result of some experiments in table-turning, the tendency of which was to show that the motion of the table was due to unconscious muscular action on the part of the persons touching the table. [25] Senatore Villari. [26] Mr. George Barrett. The omitted passage describes an act of generosity by him to one of his younger brothers. [27] Hardly a successful horoscope of the future Ambassador at Paris and Viceroy of India. [28] Afterwards wife of Signor Carlo Botta, an Italian man of letters, with whom she returned to America and lived in New York. [29] This refers to the death of the infant child of the Storys, with whom Mr. and Mrs. Browning were on intimate terms of friendship, as the previous letters show. [30] According to Mr. R.B. Browning, this is practically what has happened with Page's portrait of Robert Browning (now in Venice). The surface has become thick and waxy, and the portrait has almost disappeared. [31] Author of 'IX. Poems, by V.' (1840). [32] This portrait is now in the possession of Mr. R.B. Browning at Venice. [33] _I.e._ 'grandfather,' a name by which Mr. Browning, senior, is frequently referred to in these letters. [34] 'Hush, hush!' [35] For the subsequent fate of this picture, see note on p. 148, above. [Transcriber's note: Reference is to Footnote [30].] [36] To Mr. Barrett. [37] This letter is written in very faint ink. [38] The news of Inkerman had come only a few days before. [39] Mrs. Browning's 'Song for the Ragged Schools of London' (_Poetical Works_, iv. 270) and her husband's 'The Twins' were printed together as a small pamphlet for sale at Miss Arabella Barrett's bazaar. Mrs. Browning's poem had been written before they left Rome. [40] The horrors of the Crimean winter were now becoming known, which fully accounts for this outburst. [41] The death of Mrs. Jameson's husband in 1854 had left her in very straitened circumstances, which were ultimately relieved, in part, by a subscription among her friends and the admirers of her works. [42] Dr. Braun's _Ruins and Museums of Rome_ (1854). [43] The late Lord Leighton, P.R.A. [44] The picture of Cimabue's Madonna carried in procession through the streets of Florence. It was exhibited in the Royal Academy Exhibition of 1855, and was bought by the Queen. [45] In 1852. CHAPTER IX 1855-1859