Correspondence

159.  Edward Moulton-Barrett (brother) & Mary Trepsack to EBB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 156–157.

June 18th 1822.—

No! No!! Miss Basy you certainly cannot tell a slight lie when you are hard pressed, your letter prooved this to me most fully, and you as well as your fancy must have no very small share of imagination [1] to invent such down right thumpers! Eh! Basy Do you take. Eh!? Well I must say that was rather good, certainly upon the whole considering the extreme labor it put you to and that you worked hard a whole half hour at it I could not do less than drop a compliment, poor Girl! she really deserved a little encouragement if it was only for her industry. If modesty is my failing (as you kindly took upon yourself to say for me,) it never was yours & never will be. Fancy is certainly a wonderful ganius [sic for genius] to fly away from you to seek refuge on his perch I’l be bound you bellowed so loud in the poor things ear and he being in his cage was obliged [1] to where he could get, [1] I’l be bound I would make your toes rattle (in spite of excommomunication [sic]) if I were to run in and tell you the house was on fire and the beams were falling in. Dab it how you would jig Eh! But I say Basy I cant bolt a stale pill [1] it sticks in my throat, no it wont do, and to bring it forward too with your usual impudence as your own, you say “upon my sole” [1] now as it happens it was my pun and Mr Mc Swiney’s holy sole [2] Come I see it is necessary to refresh your memory now and then when [you] so conveniently forget. [1] Well my inimitable [1] sister I must wish you good bye, but you may depend upon hearing from me soon. You will be a sharp young lady to get learned notes and introductory treatises from me.

Believe me your affectionately attached

Bro—

Ii [3] am as anxious to hear that your face is free from the tyranny of your fingers as you are to hear that Ii [3] am free from the tyranny of the doctor!–

[Continued in Mary Trepsack’s hand] Bulletin of the Inimitable Youth’s health– The distressing Symtoms are (we are happy to say) progressively vanishing If we cou[l]d induce the patient to exercise his Tongue a little more It wd be more pleasing to his friends– We are afraid the air of London agrees not with that Member—but mayhap the shock he received on coming away so suddenly is the sole cause of his present Melancholy– The only fault we can find in him is the want of speech– as you are considered to have some knowledge of diseases, & remedies, perhaps you can point out some cure for this Young Man’s complaint, If so, you will oblige the Medical board now sitting on this disease of Silence, by giving them the earliest information– We are truly happy to hear of the improvement in the Spine, God send you every blessing my dearest Girl——

Address and franked by EBB’s uncle on integral page: London June eighteen 1822 / Miss Barrett / Hope End / Ledbury / S M Barrett.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Eton College Library.

1. Underscored three times.

2. Underscored six times.

3. Underscored twice.

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