1848. Harriet Martineau to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 10, 91–92.
Birmingham
Febry 23d [1845] [1]
Dear Miss Barrett
I do not like even to appear forgetful of you, & so I shall send you a little note, now & then, even when, as at present, I can do no more. This very cold weather which I enjoy so much, makes me fear for you. There is some sadness to me in my gayest moments of ploughing through the snow, & tramping along the frozen roads, when I think that times are not changed with you, & two more prisoners who were but lately my fellows. But you know this without my telling it; & you had rather hear how well I go on. — We went to Wansfell as planned; &, as not planned nor conceived of, had a month of very singular happiness there (at Mr Greg’s) (—your vols lying about to make part of it.) I had no idea before how much my mind cd benefit by an airing. I went, somewhat shaken by my poor bro: Greenhow’s terrible mistake, [2] & trembling & anxious for him & for myself. I was astonished to find how soon I lost all care & trouble. It was a new experience to me to find whole days & weeks pass without anxiety or pain. The Gregs were the most precious of my friends there. Then there were the Arnolds, Fletchers, Davys & Wordsworths; [3] —& O! such scenery! I walked 5 & 7 miles in a day, with no fatigue. And too, I agreed to a plan made by my friends there,—that I shd return for the whole summer & autumn. I have taken rooms for self & maid, close by the Gregs & Davys, & within an easy walk of the others, from 1st of June to Decbr, at least. It seems a piece of enormous self-indulgence; but my family & friends declare it the wisest thing I cd do & I do feel that the full establishmt of a good state of health is my first duty at present; & that all the boating, riding, driving & walking wh we plan may be conscientiously indulged in for one season. The Wordsworths are very well & truly kind to me. The Arnolds are now, I trust, real friends of mine. Of the Gregs, it wd be in vain to speak, in my present space.
I next came down, viâ Manchester, to Bollington in Cheshire,—my brother & sister Higginson of Liverpool [4] meeting me at Manchr for one happy evg Then, after a week at Bollington, & a little visit to the Davenports, my elder brother [5] went over for me to Capesthorne, & brought me to this, his happy home, where I hope to stay till May,—& then to spend a month at Nottingham. It is 8 years since I saw his younger children; & it is a most exhilarating sight to me,—his six fine lads & lasses (3 of each) round his table—all trying to make happy the poor aunt they have been pitying so long. We are all workers, & try to deserve our evg mirth,—meeting at breakft at half past seven, & being diligent at school, manufactory, in dining room & study during the daylight hours, & having a dance, or singing or merry talk in the evgs As spring comes on, we are to walk over the whole country round,—& it is very pretty in parts. My good brother & sister have sustained me, & approved, all through my experiment of recovery & its results, & they have the reward of their ready kindness in seeing me so well in their own home. Every body believes who sees me. —You will, if able, give me the treat of a note some time while I am here,—(at “Robt M’s Esqr, Birmingham.”) Don’t fancy us in a street. We are out of the town, with a garden before & behind, & a stretch of country to look upon. I get a mesmerizing when I can, & Mesmerists turn up every where. Miss Wynyard & I parted at Bollington,—for the present.
My next will be less of a personal narrative, let us hope. I wish I might think of you as pretty well.
Yours affecly,
dear friend,
H. Martineau.
Address: Miss Barrett / 50. Wimpole St / London.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Yale University.
1. Year provided by postmark.
2. i.e., the publication of his Medical Report of the Case of Miss H______ M______ (1845), detailing his treatment of her collapsed uterus (see letter 1815, note 6).
3. Miss Martineau refers to the Gregs’ neighbors at Wansfell: Mrs. Thomas Arnold (née Mary Penrose, 1791?–1873) who lived with her four daughters at Fox How; Eliza Fletcher (née Dawson, 1770–1858) and her daughter, Grace; John Davy (1790–1868) and his wife Margaret (née Fletcher, b. 1798); and William and Dorothy Wordsworth.
4. Ellen Martineau (1811–89), Harriet’s youngest sister, married, at age 33, Alfred Higginson, a surgeon in Liverpool.
5. Robert Martineau (1798–1870), a brass founder in Birmingham.
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