76. EBB to Edward Moulton-Barrett (brother)
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 65–66.
[Cheltenham]
[September 1818] [1]
My dearest Bro,
Your funny letter received this instant gave us no small pleasure as it both afforded us the inexpressible delight of hearing you were safe and sound & told us that you had niether forgotten us or your promise! Our own luxuries these three days have not far exceeded yours as a deluge of rain has abjured both the pleasures of shopping and of physicing ourselves! I should suppose that you were an agreable interuption to Mr Mc Swineys meditations. They indeed must have been solitary! How delighted Rosa must have been to see you! and how pleasant a companion Mrs Kings! [2] The Coachman waits and Papa hurries (for he has returned) & I have only time to tell you that we will have the pleasure on Monday of beholding you and Hope End once more!
Mc Swineys Novel! [3] It <is> really intolerably provoking. And the garters! shameful! I hope you found Moses well and all the out of doors pensioners biped and quadruped! You beg pardon for having asked me to write twice. I shall not pardon an offence not committed as you have certainly only asked me once! And is not that sufficient for your insatiable soul? The beds must be well aired by Monday– Good bye dearest Bro.
Ever your affecte Sister.
Ba.
Our united remembrances to Mr McSwinney in spite of the novel
The wafer is excused! [4]
Address, on integral page: Master Barrett. / Hope End.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. It is known that most of the family were in Cheltenham at about this time in 1818.
2. Probably Mrs. Kings, innkeeper of the Unicorn, Southend, Ledbury.
3. No record of a novel has been found. Several works of verse by him are preserved (see Reconstruction, L168–71).
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