2609. RB to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 13, 375–376.
[London]
[Postmark: 17 September 1846]
My only sweetest, I will write just a word to catch the earlier post,—time pressing. Bless you for all you suffer .. I know it though it would be very needless to call your attention to the difficulties. I know much, if not all, and can only love and admire you,—not help, alas!
Surely these difficulties will multiply if you go to Bookham—the way will be to leave at once. The letters may easily be written during the journey .. at Orléans, for example. But now,—you propose Saturday .. nothing leaves Southampton according [to] to-day’s advertisement, till Tuesday .. the days seem changed to Tuesdays & Fridays– Tomorrow at 8¼ p.m & Friday the 22. 10¼. Provoking! I will go to town directly to the Railway Office and enquire particularly—getting the time-table also. Under these circumstances, we have only the choice of Dieppe (as needing the shortest diligence-journey)—or the Sunday morning Havre-packet, at 9. am—which you do not consider practicable: though it would, I think, take us the quickliest out of all the trouble. I will let you know all particulars in a note to-night .. it shall reach you to-night.
If we went from London only, the luggage could be sent here or in any case, perhaps .. as one fly will carry them with me & mine, and save possibility of delay.
I am very well, dearest dearest—my mother no worse, better, perhaps—she is out now .. our staying and getting into trouble would increase her malady.
As you leave it to me,—the name, & “Wimpole St” will do– Jamaica,—sounds in the wrong direction, does it not? and the other place is distinctive enough.
Take no desk .. I will take a large one: take nothing you can leave—but secure letters &c– I will take out a passport. Did you not tell me roughly at how much you estimated our expenses for the journey? Because I will take about that much, and get Rothschild’s letter of credit for Leghorn—one should avoid carrying money about with one.
All this in such haste! Bless you, my dearest dearest Ba
Your RB–
All was right in the License, & Certificate, & Register—the whole name is there, E.B.M.B. [1] —the clergyman made the mistake in not having the two names, but all runs right to read .. the essential thing.
Address: Miss Barrett, / 50. Wimpole Street.
Postmark: 3AN3 SP17 1846 E.
Publication: RB-EBB, pp. 1082–83.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. See EBB’s explanation of her name in the third paragraph of letter 2606.
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