2. Elizabeth Moulton to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 2–4.
[Mickleham]
[6 March 1810] [1]
I flatter myself my beloved Elizabeth will be pleased to have a Letter from GrdMama, who has taken the pen my dear Good Girl to congratulate you on your entrance into your fifth year– May each succeeding one find you as happy as no doubt, you are now—& be to your parents all that their fond Hearts can wish—also dear Henrietta, whose Birth day was on Sunday; you must give her a dozen Kisses for Trip, & myself. I have been some time anxious to write to you, (but put it off till this day,) to say how delighted I am at the accounts I have had of you– I hear you can read very prettily indeed, & very fond of your Books; that you mind whatever Papa, & Mama, says to you, in short, that you are a darling good Girl; which makes GrdMama love you, if possible, more than ever– You must give our Love to dear Bro, [2] & tell him we expect to hear that He is grown fond of his Book; talk to him my dear Ba, & tell him what pleasure it will give his friends when he can read– Dunces are always laughd at, & I know you wd not wish to see him one—as you can read so well yourself, you shd endeavour to prevail on him to let you teach him——
Junius [3] at Dinner this day poured out a Bumper of Wine to each of us, & said we must drink dear Miss Barretts Health– He had one himself, & on taking it to his lips, wish’d you very good, Dear Miss, I wish her, very, very happy——
Give My Love & Kiss to Mama, thank her for her Letter—two Kisses to Bum [4] for herself, & present: tell her I shall value them for her sake—the verses will also be not less priz’d for being the production of the varmint young Man—— I cannot say anything of their Merits, or demerits, as Mr Lockhead has not yet made his appearance– I look for his arrival with no small impatience, as he will be able to tell me a great deal about you——
Love & Kiss dear Papa, tell him Parish set off last Week to Portsmouth much recoverd, took out nine young Men with him for Mr Scarlett [5] –——
Ask Papa if he had any news from Jamaica by this last pacquet– If Doctor Scarlett [6] is restord to health
Mickleham is not so pretty as when you were here, the Ground is now all coverd with Snow—— Trep Kisses & wishes you all happiness– God Bless you my precious Child
prays Yours ever affectionate GrdMama
EM–
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. Dated by the reference to EBB’s birthday and her entrance into her fifth year (1810).
2. “Bro” became the nickname of EBB’s brother Edward, superseding Buff.
3. Junius, who is thought to have been born in slavery in Jamaica, was a member of Mrs. Moulton’s household until her death, after which he remained with Samuel Moulton-Barrett, EBB’s uncle.
4. “Bum” and “Bummy,” as well as “Bell,” were nicknames of Arabella Graham-Clarke, EBB’s maternal aunt.
5. Portsmouth was frequently used as the port of embarkation for Jamaica. A letter from Henry Waite Plummer to Leonard Parkinson on 21 February 1805 (SD42, Appendix II) shows that a carpenter by the name of Parrish was employed at the Moulton-Barretts’ Cinnamon Hill estate in Jamaica.
The Mr. Scarlett to whom he was journeying would have been either James Scarlett (later Lord Abinger) or his brother Philip, both of whom had holdings in Jamaica. James, however, was an absentee landlord, so the reference here is assumed to be to Philip, who, in addition to his own interests, was at this time acting as agent for Edward Moulton-Barrett, another absentee landlord.
6. Dr. Robert Scarlett, younger brother of James and Philip. In a letter to Edward Moulton-Barrett of 17 February 1810 (SD132), James Scarlett wrote: “My brother Robert I hear was ill with a fever when the packet sailed, out of danger, but not able to write.”
___________________
