‎MUNARI Bruno‎
‎WHAT I'D LIKE TO BE‎

‎Autograph signed letter, dated April 16, 1866, sent to the Dean of St Pauls’: «Dear Dean, Comforting rumours reached me, while I was so ill, of the kind interest you took in me, for which forst let me thank you with all my heart. I really don’t know why [ … ] those who care for me would desire the prolongationof a life so denuded of all that makes life vakuable. Yet I cannot help being pleased at the thought that there are still some kind friends would do not like to part with me for ever. I am better, & as it seems, very likely to be for a while much I was before this singular & violent attack, which is not saying much – but it may enable me to do some thing more towards the completion of my work. Meantime, we are coming out, as you see, with a new edition of Ranke, which has long been called for. Murray asked me to write a few words of Preface,, «by way» as he said of giving a little «eclat» to the edition. Nothing can be more incongruous than eclat & my poor self & I have literally nothing to say. I said what I thought of the book before. I cannot well depraise my translation – what remains. If occurred to me, most dear & venerable Dean, that perhaps out of friendship to Murray (who so welle deserves it) you would prefix a page or two to this edition. The times are suggestive, & it is to be desired that among the many who call but for the downfall of the Papacy, some few would endeavour to know what it really is, & what the dangers that threatens it [… ] You will forgive me even an indiscret request. I forget whether I ever sent you a copy of the inscription on my husband’s tomb. All of it, except a few words, is mine [ etc… ]. ‎

‎1 L.A.S., 4 pages folded under is enveloppe: Autograph signed letter, dated April 16, 1866, sent to the Dean of St Pauls’: «Dear Dean, Comforting rumours reached me, while I was so ill, of the kind interest you took in me, for which forst let me thank you with all my heart. I really don’t know why [ … ] those who care for me would desire the prolongationof a life so denuded of all that makes life vakuable. Yet I cannot help being pleased at the thought that there are still some kind friends would do not like to part with me for ever. I am better, & as it seems, very likely to be for a while much I was before this singular & violent attack, which is not saying much – but it may enable me to do some thing more towards the completion of my work. Meantime, we are coming out, as you see, with a new edition of Ranke, which has long been called for. Murray asked me to write a few words of Preface,, «by way» as he said of giving a little «eclat» to the edition. Nothing can be more incongruous than eclat & my poor self & I have literally nothing to say. I said what I thought of the book before. I cannot well depraise my translation – what remains. If occurred to me, most dear & venerable Dean, that perhaps out of friendship to Murray (who so welle deserves it) you would prefix a page or two to this edition. The times are suggestive, & it is to be desired that among the many who call but for the downfall of the Papacy, some few would endeavour to know what it really is, & what the dangers that threatens it [… ] You will forgive me even an indiscret request. I forget whether I ever sent you a copy of the inscription on my husband’s tomb. All of it, except a few words, is mine [ etc… ]. ‎

‎Very interesting letter sent to the dean Henry Hart Milman (1791-1868), Dean of St Paul’s, by the famous writer Sarah Austin, born Taylor (1793-1867). Wife of the philosoph John Austin, friend of famous writer as John Stuart Mill or Jeremy Bentham, Sarah Austin is famous for his important and numerous translations, among which «History of the Reformation in Germany and History of the Popes» by Leopold von Ranke was one of the most famous.‎