Correspondence

504.  EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 135–137.

Sidmouth.

Tuesday. [21 April 1835] [1]

My dear Mr Boyd,

Perhaps you will be a little surprised to hear of a letter from me again,—when I have received no signal of its acceptibility to you. But it seems to me a long time since I wrote last—and here is Arabel wondering whether Annie is ill or angry that she takes no notice of her!– And so you must forgive this intrusion of mine, & pay the penalty of those who have true friends, in submitting to be asked how you are at least once in two months. We hear a report of your being about to take & furnish another London house. Of this I shall be glad, I mean in the case of your determining to remain anywhere in London—as from what I have understood, Circus Road cannot be a desirable situation for you. It surprises me that you should prefer London as a residence,—but since you do prefer it, & dear Annie prefers it, I would not move you—not, if my words were a whirlwind & could do it.

And now I am going to tell you the only good news I know, & you will be glad, I know, to be told what I am going to tell you. Dear Georgie has taken his degree, & very honorably, at Glasgow, & is coming to us in all the dignity of a Bachelor of arts. He was examined in Logic, Moral philosophy, Greek & Latin, of course publicly: and we have heard from a fellow student of his, that his answers were more pertinent than those of any other of the examined, & elicited much applause. Mr Groube is the fellow student [2] —but he has ceased to be one, having found the Glasgow studies too heavy for his health. Stormie shrank from the public examination, on account of the hesitation in his speech. He would not go up,—altho’, according to report, as well qualified as Georgie. Mr Groube says that the ladies of Glasgow are preparing to break their hearts for Georgie’s departure: and he & Stormie leave Glasgow on the first of May!—— Now, I am sure you will rejoice with me in the result of the examination. Do you not, dear friend? I was very anxious about it,—& almost resigned to hear of a failure—for Georgie was in great alarm & prepared us for the very worst. Therefore the surprise & pleasure were great.

I cant tell you of our plans,—altho’ the Glasgow students come to us in a week & this house will be too small to receive them. We may leave Sidmouth immediately, or not at all. I shall soon be quite qualified to write a poem on the “Pleasures of doubt [3] —& a very good subject it will be. The pleasures of certainty are generally far less enjoyable—I mean as pleasures go in this unpleasing world. Papa is in London, & much better when we heard from him last—and we are awaiting his decree.

Do you see Mrs Mathew often? I hope you do, dear friend! The friendship of such as she,—is it not, as the impress of the seal of the friendship of Jesus? We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren: [4] and something of the same knowledge seems to come—because the brethren love us!——

The widow of Mr Sipps of Hereford, of whom you may have heard, has lately spent a fortnight here. In the course of two years she has lost her sister & her husband—her daughter is dying—and her infant never knew the sight of its father’s face. She is a lovely illustration of that lovely contrast of words in Scripture—“much affliction, in joy of the Holy Ghost”. [5] ——

You will be surprised to hear that Harriet Baynes is … not dead, but about to be married to Mr Groves the Persian missionary!– She is of course perfectly well: and immediately upon her marriage, sails with him to India!– Is not this, very like a miracle?——

And now what remains for me to tell you?– I believe I have read more Hebrew than Greek, lately: yet the dear Greek is not less dear than ever. Who reads Greek to you? Who holds my office? Some one I hope with an articulation of more congenial slowness!——

Give Annie my kind love. May God preserve both of you.

Believe me

Your affectionate friend

E B Barrett.–

[Continued, in the hand of Arabella Moulton-Barrett.] Will you tear this off & give it to Annie—— [6]

Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 208–210.

Manuscript: Wellesley College.

1. Dated by the references to the forthcoming marriage of Harriet Baynes, which took place on 25 April, and to the impending departure of EBB’s brothers from Glasgow.

2. Horatio Groube, who later became a Congregational Minister and died in 1888, aged 74.

3. A reference to Campbell’s The Pleasures of Hope (1802).

4. I John, 3:14.

5. I Thessalonians, 1:6.

6. In compliance with this request, the remainder of the sheet has been torn away.

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