107. Samuel Moulton-Barrett (uncle) to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 95.
[London]
[ca. July 1820] [1]
My dearest Ba,
As Tripsack is writing to you, & seems bent on giving you an extract from all the daily papers with a few dips into futurity, I think I may well be spared. I will therefore reserve myself for another opportunity, assuring you only at the present thinking far from wishing you to abandon your political principles (Is this to a female Baby?) I wish to confirm you in them– But do use some delicacy both towards the individual of whom you are writing, & towards to whom you are addressing yourself– With this little piece of advice which may save hereafter both your understanding, your taste, & your feeling being impeached, I shall take my leave of you referring you to Tripsack for a full account of our yesterdays proceedings which have convinced me more than ever that the House of Commons is the most blackguard hole a man can be found in.
Ever most affectionately Yours
SMB
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. Dated from the reference to “our yesterday’s proceedings” in the House of Commons; Samuel Moulton-Barrett had been elected as member for Richmond, Yorkshire, in the general election of 1820. It seems likely that his disenchantment stemmed from the acrimonious debates in both houses of Parliament on the Bill against Queen Caroline, proposed on 5 July (see letter 109, note 1). He was recorded in The Annual Register for 1820 as having voted on 26 June against the motion to appoint a secret committee to investigate the charges against the Queen.
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