481. EBB to Julia Martin
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 84–87.
Sidmouth.
September 7th 1833
My dearest Mrs Martin,
Are you a little angry again? I do hope not. I should have written long ago if it had not been for Henrietta,—and Henrietta would have written very lately if it had not been for me: and we must beg of you to forgive us both for the sake of each other. Thank you for the kind letter which I have been so tardly [sic] in thanking you for—but which was not, on that account, the less gladly received.– Do believe how much it pleases me always, to see and read dear Mrs Martin’s handwriting!– But I must try to tell you some less ancient truths. We are still in the ruinous house. Without any poetical fiction, the walls are too frail, for even me, who enjoy the situation in a most particularly particular manner, to have any desire to pass the winter within them. One wind we have had the privilege of hearing already,—and down came the tiles while we were at dinner, and made us all think that down something else was coming: We have had one chimney pulled down to prevent it from tumbling down; and have received especial injunctions from the bricklayers, not to lean too much out of the windows, for fear the walls should follow the destiny of the chimney. Altogether there is every reasonable probability that the whole house will in the course of next winter, be as like Persepolis, [1] as anything so ugly can be!—— If another house which will fit us, can be found in Sidmouth, I am sure Papa will take it; but, as he said the other day, “if I cant find a house, I must go”. I hope he may find one—and as near the sea as this ruin. I have enjoyed its moonlight and its calmness all the summer,—and am prepared to enjoy its tempestuousness of the winter, with as true an enjoyment. What we shall do ultimately, I do not even dream; and, if I know Papa, he does not. My visions of the future are confined to “what shall I write or read next[”]—and “when shall we next go out in the boat”, and they, you know, can do no harm to anybody. Of one thing I have a comforting certainty—that wherever we may go or stay, the decree which moves or fixes us, will & must be the “wisest virtuousest discreetest best!”– [2]
And now I must say how glad we were to hear of your pleasant expedition into Wales. Would it had been into Devonshire!– Did the mountains do their duty, and make you enjoy yourselves thoroughly? Do tell me if they did: and if, now that the scene is changed, you are still enjoying yourselves, and your new rector, [3] and old tythes. If all the scandal we hear of him, be true, the shortness of his sermons, must be his least objectionable quality. I heard from Mr Curzon three days ago,—and he pleases me by seeming to be far happier at Malvern than he ever was at Ledbury. I do not wonder at that. No sympathy and no solitude, are no ingredients of happiness! and at Ledbury, he had both nos. I like the image which he gives me, of his teaching metaphysics and geometry to his little son, [4] among those high gossy [5] dear hills!– Mr Boyd is still here; and he & I have been very busy in the preparation of his essay on the Greek Prepositive article for the new edition of Dr Adam Clarke’s Commentary. [6] The sale of the commentary is wonderful. Twenty two thousand copies have been printed by Tegg!! [7] I suppose no other commentary ever had such a sale. Two thousand copies have been sold in Manchester only!! Do you take it in? In throwing lights from every source,—from sun moon and stars,—upon Scripture,—in deep research, and curious information, and ‘all such reading as is never read’, [8] —no other commentary can rival it. Its faults are natural ones, arising, for the most part, from the very versatility of learning, and subtleness of ingenuity, which constitute much of its excellence. Dr Clarke’s doctrines are not always & altogether and strictly Scriptural; but on all essential doctrines, he is always & altogether & strictly scriptural,—and the Lord Jesus knew that he loved Him. I am just beginning to read the third volume of his Life. [9] I hope you have read or will read every one of the three. They will surely interest you. Above all things, read Morris’s Life of Robert Hall! [10] Robert Hall was as divine as any human being can be! If I were to begin to write about him here, you would have to pay for a double letter,—and Mr Martin would think me more intolerable than the rector. So, I will change the subject to myself. You told me that you were going to read my book,—and I want to know what you think of it. [11] If you were given to compliment and insincerity, I should be afraid of asking you; because,—among other evident reasons,—I might then appear to be asking for your praise instead of your opinion. As it is, .. I want to know what you think of my book!—— Is the translation stiff? If you know me at all (and I venture to hope that you do!) you will be certain that I shall like your honesty, & love you for being honest, even if you put on the very blackest of black caps. Talking of black caps, I wish you could hear Mr Hunter. Supposing you did not agree with him, you could not put on a black cap then. Your hand would be paralyzed. He is very eloquent,—yet his eloquence is valued, (as Gregory Nazianzen valued his) for being something which he can despise for Christ’s sake. And out of the pulpit, I like so much to hear him talk. He has a feeling (not that cold word taste) for poetry & literature, which you meet with, or at least, I meet with, very rarely. And so gentle and humble and simple-minded!– Oh!—I wish you knew Mr Hunter!——
We are all very well,—but are doing nothing I believe, which it would amuse you to hear about. Henrietta & Arabel are still taking drawing lessons from Mr Williams, and doing justice, I think, to his instructions. No rain (except once for a few hours) for two months! And we in Devonshire. Bummy speaks of wind & rain besides having visited Northumberland. Do you know that she & uncle James have given up Fenham? You may suppose what our dreams are, about her building her nest in our tree, or near it. The Hedleys & Butlers, are gone abroad.
Of course you know that the late bill has ruined the West Indians. [12] That is settled. The consternation here is very great. Nevertheless I am glad, and always shall be, that the negroes are—virtually—free!——
How is Charlotte Peyton? Will you tell Eliza Cliffe that Arabel and I wrote to her some time ago; and instead of being silent from any other cause, we were merely & naturally expecting an answer to our letter. We will write to her soon. You are quite right and kind, dearest Mrs Martin, in all you say of the Heywoods. No regard for us, could be proved, by a want of attention to them: and my true wish is that they may be happy at Hope End, and liked by the neighbourhood. Have you seen Lady Margaret Cocks, since their return to Eastnor? And is she looking tolerably well? The new dynasty, among the Commelines, cannot (I agree with you) be an improvement!——
Well! I suppose I must now come to an end. My kindest regards, & Bro’s and everybody’s, to Mr Martin—and tell me something about him!–
May God bless you, dear Mrs Martin!——
Ever believe me
Your affectionate
E B Barrett.
Henrietta has just taken leave of me—having embarked, not on the sea, but on a walking sketching expedition, to Bicton, Lord Rolle’s, [13] and 4 miles off. Considering the distance, and the hills, I have some doubt, whether she will return tonight.
Address, on integral page: Mrs Martin / Old Colwall / Ledbury / Herefordshire.
Publication: LEBB, I, 21–23 (in part).
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. i.e., in ruins. Persepolis was destroyed by Alexander the Great.
2. Paradise Lost, VIII, 550.
3. The previous Rector, the Rev. James Charles Clarke, who had not visited the parish for 20 years, had died in 1831, aged 71. His successor was the Rev. Thomas Wynne. The passing-over of the claim to the living by the Rev. Thomas Dean, who had tended the parish during the long absence of its Rector, prompted James Martin to write a highly-critical letter to the Bishop of Hereford (see Diary, pp. 288–290).
4. Henry George Roper-Curzon (1822–92), who became 17th Baron Teynham on his father’s death in 1889.
5. “Goss” is given in OED as a variant of gorse.
6. “A new edition, with the author’s final corrections” of The Holy Bible … With a Commentary and Critical Notes, by Adam Clarke, was in the press. Boyd’s “Essay” appeared in vol. II, 1469–1480, dated 30 July 1833.
7. Thomas Tegg (1776–1845), bookseller and printer, of 73 Cheapside, London.
8. Pope’s Dunciad, IV, 250.
9. An Account of the Infancy, Religious and Literary Life of Adam Clarke, ed. J.B.B. Clarke, 1833.
10. Biographical Recollections of the Rev. Robert Hall, A.M. (1833), by John Webster Morris (1763–1836).
11. Prometheus Bound.
12. The Act emancipating slaves throughout the British colonies had received the Royal Assent on 28 August.
13. Bicton House, between Sidmouth and Exeter, was the seat of John Rolle, Baron Rolle (1750–1842).
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