174. Edward Moulton-Barrett (brother) to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 172–173.
[London]
[Postmark: 22 February 1823]
My dearest Bazy.
For the third time I have come home by myself without poor Sam, he stopped on account of having been reported irregular, I staid a long time begging Russell & Penny [1] but all to no purpose. Oh Bazy, Bazy, I have been writhing in agony ever since thursday with that very unromantic complaint vulgarly called the stomach ache which I attribute to having eaten some sliced, hard, dried, beastly bits of beef with a sprinkling of cabbage passing at Charter House under the fashionable nomination of Bubble and Squeak, well I eat a little of this, but I had hardly swallowed half a dozen mouth fulls before I thought I had at least taken a pint of julep if not poison. Oh what pain I was in all day, in the evening Watky sent me over to Spry’s the doctors [2] who gave me a calomille pill that night, a black dose, alias black soup in the morning, a saline draught last night and another this morning which I am happy to say has set me quite right again, and I am now quite ready [to] tuck down all the good things 67 Baker Street can afford.
We had a half holiday on Thursday in honor of a boy of the name of Saunders [3] who was at Charter House some time ago obtaining a very respectable degree at Cambridge. We have had two rows this week three of the very biggest boys have been flogged for throwing a stone which went through a window which [hit] a poor man on the forehead and hurt him severely, another boy threw a stone and hit one of the little boys in the eye and they are not sure but what he will loose [sic] his eye. Granny desires me to remind you for the second time to enquire of Matthews the price of his box. [4] My dearest Bazy I must finish my letter as dinner is just ready & I have to wash my hands,
believe me
your affectionately attached
Brozy.
Sam [5] left town on thursday evening for Gloucester being unwell with a severe cold in his head.
Address, on integral page: Miss Barrett / Hope End / Ledbury / Herefordshire.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
1. Edmund Henry Penny, M.A. (1797–1879), Assistant Master at Charterhouse. Thackeray, who was a pupil during Bro’s time there, and who immortalized the school as Grey Friars in his novels, was a boarder in Penny’s house. Penny later became Rector of Gt. Stambridge, Essex.
2. Dr. J. Hume Spry, of Charterhouse Square.
3. Augustus Page Saunders, M.A., D.D. (1801–78). He was a pupil at Charterhouse 1817–19 and followed Dr. Russell as Headmaster in 1832, holding the post until 1853, when he was appointed Dean of Peterborough.
4. A cabinet maker by the name of Mathews had premises on New Street, Ledbury.
5. Uncle Sam.
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