151. Edward Moulton-Barrett (brother) to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 149.
[London]
February 5th 1822
My ever dearest Ba
You must excuse my not writing to you yesterday as in the first place at the only time I possibly could have the least time to write there was not a drop of ink in the room and in the second place nearly all my time was occupied in preparing for an examination which the Doctor [1] threatens us, and in which he says he is going to work us most properly and most thoroughly. according to my agreement I wrote a note to Mr Bayford and went to Doctor Nuttals where soon after my arrival the Doctor ipse [2] arrived and after talking a little he went out of the room and soon appeared with little master George the son in heir who is really a very fine little fellow, the first question he asked was who I thought he was like I said I really could not judge as he was so young the Doctor then exclaimed “is not he like me, has he not got my aquiline nose, like an eagles beak, hey!! and his mouth is it not his mother’s hey! hey!![”] in the evening we went to Mrs Simson’s [3] to drink. she is better, but I think looks very ill. she asked very kindly after Papa. On Sunday we took a long walk to Brompton through the Park & after tea we started for the Charter House so that upon the whole we spent a very happy Saturday and Sunday, with, goose one day and roast beef another for dinner. I must be gone good bye
ever believe me
truly attached & ever affect
Bro
Many many thanks for your letter though I complied with your request in one point I could not comply with it in another. Thank Mama for her kind letter and Henrietta for her promise of one.——
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
1. John Russell, D.D. (1786–1863), educated at Charterhouse and Christ Church, Oxford, returned to his old school as Assistant Master in 1806. He was appointed Headmaster in 1811 and held that post until 1832. He was described as “a man of exceptional vigour and capacity, a born reformer, and possessed of imagination and of original ideas” (Charterhouse in London, by Gerald S. Davies, 1921, p. 264). Under Russell’s guidance, the school became very popular.
2. “Himself.”
3. A friend of Elizabeth Moulton, referred to in letter 165 as “old mother Simpson.”
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