191. Edward Moulton-Barrett (brother) to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 192.
[London]
April 4th 1824.
My dearest Bazy.
I can assure you I felt the full force of your rage, and must allow that I was stupid about the business, however, although tis most true that I owe you many a grudge yet unpaid which would have fully justified me even supposing it intentional, yet I disclaim having entertained any desire of showing my “malice” (as you please to denominate it) in half so mean and underhand a manner, and I at the same time feel suitable indignation at the insinuations which you have thrown out to that effect, now that I have gratified my desire to be candid, and at the same time my wish to justify my “disposition” from your unjust, unfounded, and “malicious” hints, I will no longer seek to gratify my revenge but in your own words “blot your sins from the tablets of my memory” “to which you so poetically allude,” you see Bazy I can make your own words turn upon yourself, as the scythes attached to the wheels of Roman chariots in a route [sic] used to do as much execution among their own army as they were intended to do against the enemy, and I think one or two of your expressions would apply more aptly and with greater justice to yourself, however Bazy a truce for the present untill we meet, which by the bye will be now in the course of about four weeks and a half. Your last letter by way of seasoning has so much good news with it that it fully compensates for——but I am entering on forbidden ground; in short I am quite delighted to hear <of G>randmama’s visit to Cheltenham, <wh>ich I am in hopes will induce her to stay some time at Hope End; I am also very glad to hear of the Trants [1] being at Malvern, remember me to them, James in particular. Good bye friend Bazy, I shall expect to hear from you during the week.
Believe me your affectionate
Brozy.
I know not if you can read this scrawl, but my hands are so cut and quartered with chops [2] that [I] can hardly bend a finger.
Address, on integral page: Miss Barrett / Hope End / Ledbury / Herefordshire.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
1. Mary Trant (née Barrett), the widow of James Trant, was a first cousin of EBB’s paternal grandmother. She had three sons: Henry, Dominick and James.
2. i.e., strokes of the cane, as punishment at Charterhouse.
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