Correspondence

97.  Mary Moulton-Barrett & Emma Heseltine [1] to EBB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 85–86.

Finished Friday Morng. Novr 26. [1819] [2]

My beloved Elizabeth,

We arrived here at past six o’clock on Sunday, and found all the dear party, dressed & very hungry, tho’ not too much so to be overjoyed to see us, & you may believe how many hugs were interchanged– They are all looking blooming, excepting poor dear Lotte, who has been kept for the two last days in bed by a severe cold which has sadly damped the pleasure of our party– John is very much grown, & Leonard Edmund, is a beautiful child, and very intelligent [3] – We all went to church to see him Christened, where he learned to say Amen after the Clerk– the Clergyman & his Wife dined here, the party were all smartly attired in white excepting Grandmama– We had a concert in the evening, which concluded with a game at forfeits– Yesterday morng Mr Price & Ly Caroline came to take Miss P. home, who was very sorry to leave our merry party [4] – Emma was much pleased with your note, & entirely understands your explanation—before I came she had learnt the 1st scene– I hope certainly to hear from you tomorrow, my sweetest Puss—to say the truth I am sadly disappointed not to have heard already—it is sometimes not quite a sufficient consolation to believe “no news good news.” I am sorry to say we cannot contrive to get to our beloved children till Tuesday—I hope certainly to bring Fanny [5] & Emma, if it be possible for them to meet us in Hereford– Poor Charlottes cold is still so bad as to confine her to her bed otherwise she would have written to thank darling Henrietta for her note– A thousand kisses

[Continued by Emma Heseltine]

Dear Baz, I take this opportunity Mrs Barrett so kindly offers me, to write you a few lines about our grand theatricals indeed dearest Baz it will be quite delightful. I think your additions to the Merchant of Venice will be a great improvement tho I do not exactly understand yet whether I am to learn what you told me in your first Letter as well as what you last wrote to me about, but it does not much signify as I am afraid I shall not be able to learn all my part till I go to Hope End as Mrs Clarke [6] cannot give me the Book, as she does not exactly know where it is, Miss Richards however lent me it for a short time and as I took the opportunity to write out Fannys part there will therefore be no impediment to her, and she will learn it all before she sees you again; I have tho learnt quite perfectly all the first scene and I shall not be five minuits learning the rest when ever I can get the Book so dearest Baz you not be in the least disstress yourself about my part as I shall be sure to know it by some means or other quite soon enough. I long to be with you again and have all the squabling delights of the Green Room to go through, I here [sic] you are making great preparations. I have no room to say anything more as this page is my limited quantity. I must however find room to thank you for your three kind Letters–

Dearest Baz’s affectionate Cousin–

E Heseltine

[Continued by Mary Moulton-Barrett] Kiss from every one here to you all– We work & talk, & talk & work, which with Music occupies our time very industriously

God bless all my treasures–

Ever my own Elizths

Most Affect Mother.

I suppose we shall have G. Mama &c with us in about ten days——

We go to Whitfield (Mr Clives) tomorrow [7]

Address, on integral page: Miss Barrett / Hope End / Ledbury.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: British Library.

1. Emma Heseltine was the daughter of Mary Moulton-Barrett’s first cousin, James Altham Heseltine.

2. 1819 dating based on content and the fact that 26 November fell on Friday in that year.

3. John and Leonard were children of John Altham and Mary Graham-Clarke.

4. Uvedale Price (1747–1829), his wife Lady Caroline Price (née Carpenter, 1754–1826), and their only daughter, Caroline (1783–1853).

5. Frances (“Fanny”) Heseltine, Emma’s older sister.

6. Their hostess, Mrs. John Graham-Clarke.

7. Edward Bolton Clive, for many years M.P. for Hereford. He did not stand for the general election of 1820 and Edward Moulton-Barrett was asked to offer himself as a candidate. He refused and endorsed Mr. Scudamore for re-election. Whitfield is 7 miles S.W. of Hereford.

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