136. EBB to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 133–134.
| [In the hand of Edward Moulton-Barrett (brother)] | [Gloucester] |
September 12th 1821.
My dearest Addles
I shall make the same use of my friend Bro’s slippery fingers as the monkey did of the cats paw, [1] in order to assure you of the sincere delight I experience from the perusal of your facinating letters, and that though Doctor Barons medical wand, may menace me with awful fierceness, yet can it not break one of those secret links of fond affection which must ever bind me to my dear Henrietta, I send you in return for your unmatched and exquisite feathers, the enclosed which may remind you of one whose greatness of spirit and loftiness of soul, towrs over death and speaks a lesson from the grave. Thank dear Mrs Orme for her kind letters, and give her my best love. I am sorry that Arabel finds so great a difficulty in collecting her ideas and that the epistolary Cibyl will not allow her, to greet me with a line, assure her however of my undiminished affection, and distribute kisses from me to the lovely and beloved circle, let not dear Minny be forgotten, though she still considers my complaint “aerlike-dispersible[.]” Thank her from me for the offer of a thousand pounds, if at the end of six months her wish be realized and I be again on my legs I shall indeed have reason to be thankful. I am going on as well as possible. Adieu my dearest Henrietta and ever beleive that no one can more fondly love you than your affectionate—
Ba
written myselfi [2]
You are [to] take your choice Sam [3] advises you to choose the black one as it is mor<e> like the Queen.—— Sam says if the old cock still continues to peck you had better take it out of the cage.——
Addressed and franked by EBB’s uncle on integral page: Gloucester September Twelve / 1821 / Miss H. Barrett / Hope End / Ledbury / S M Barrett.
Publication: None traced.
Source: Transcript in editors’ file.
1. In La Fontaine’s fable, “Le Singe et le Chat” (1671).
2. The signature and “written myself” are in EBB’s hand and were circled by her.
3. EBB’s uncle, who also franked the letter.
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