Correspondence

176.  Edward Moulton-Barrett (brother) & Charlotte Orme to EBB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 174–175.

[Postmark: 8 March 1823]

Well Miss Bazy what is the matter with you now or what new flights of fancy, or humour have you taken into your head that you would not deign to write me a line today, is it that because you have got down stairs you think yourself too fine a lady to condescend to notice [a] Charter House boy if this is your reason let me inform you that a Carthusian scholar is as good any day in the week as a young lady just recovering the use of her spine, pray what is the matter with you. I had almost a mind to pay you off in your own coin, and not write to you today but I am too much enraged to let you off so easily, and to let my anger evaporate in cool contempt. [Continued in the hand of Mrs. Orme [1] ] My dearest Ba Bro seems lost in thought endeavouring to collect his ideas but alas! There is a chatty lady here who entirely prevents him. My cold is better and I am looking forward with anxiety to a despatch from you My best love attend you all. C Orme. [Continued in the hand of Edward Moulton-Barrett] In short to sum up your coolness is past bounds, & your impudence is proverbial. We are now doing Cicero in the evening instead of doing Homer both [2] morning and evening. We were examined on Thursday by Russell for the purpose of turning down the six worst as the form was two [sic] full, I am happy to say that I was not one of the unfortunate fellows who got turned down. We had had such a heavy fall of snow yesterday that we had more snow balling, but the Watkyites I am sorry to say got the worst of it, I got rolled twice and my retreat was cut off, from getting into my own house again and I was obliged to take refuge in Churton’s [3] with three other boys here we collected the Churtonites and Pence [4] and after several unsuccessful sallies we at last cut our way through the enemy. Good bye my dearest Bazy and believe me

your affectionate–

Brozy.——

Love to all, and thank Henrietta for her letter, I think your letter to her beautiful.

Address, on integral page: Miss Barrett / Hope End / Ledbury / Herefordshire.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Eton College Library.

1. Bro apparently intended to continue beyond the word “contempt,” but was interrupted. Mrs. Orme began her note on the same line which he had left unfinished. When Bro resumed writing, he added a period after “contempt,” crossed out a word (“you”), then continued his attack on EBB.

2. He originally wrote “both Homer,” then transposed the words by numbering them 2 and 1 respectively.

3. Edward Churton, M.A. (1800–74), was admitted to Charterhouse as a scholar in 1810, going on to Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his B.A. in 1821. After obtaining his degree, he returned to his old school, and until 1830 was Assistant Master. He later became Archdeacon of Cleveland. The reference here is to his house in Wilderness Row, holding 56 boys, one of three new houses opened in 1821 to relieve overcrowding. Prior to that, 148 boys were crammed into Watkinson’s house, and 144 in Chapman’s.

4. This is thought to be Charterhouse jargon for the boys of Penny’s house.

___________________