202. Edward Moulton-Barrett (brother) to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 206–207.
[London]
October 10th 1824.
Well Bazy if these are your delights of London, I can only say as [I] do upon many other subjects, that I pity your taste, a wet Sunday in London has been considered by many, as the summum [1] of earthly misery. Now as to such disatisfied wretches I would just put them in the same situation with the small addition of being at Charter House, and then see if [they] would not wish themselves, any where even dripping in the middle of the street, in preference, to being shut up here on such a day as this, the play ground is completely flooded, the Library in the house is shut up, and if it had’nt been for you I know not what I should do, so here for once in a way you are of some use. You will no doubt admire my great condescension, unbounded kindness and implicit obedience to your earnest requests when you hear that I have changed my seal which gave you so much offence and have now got a plain one of which I hope you will approve, [2] if not I am affraid you must remain displeased as I am sure your opinion will not make me change again, I hope you will [feel] all due gratitude, and will consider yourself highly flattered for my so condescendingly submitting to your taste this once, from which my own very frequently so essentially differs. I have today been writing to Hastings, and hope you either have or will soon, direct your pen in the same direction. I assure you they are by no means pleased at your silence, and they will no doubt think it extremely unkind of you, if they dont hear from you soon, this do for both them and myself so sit down directly and make us each a good long apology for your idleness. As I wrote to you so short a time ago I have little more to tell you, except that from an exactly different cause on your part I shall expect shortly a different result, and that I shall soon receive a good long letter from you, as I am sure you must have plenty to tell me after so long a silence.
Ever beleive me
your affectionate
Brozy——
Sam’s love.
Address, on integral page: S. M. Barrett. Esqr MP. / Hope End / Ledbury / Herefordshire. “Ba” is written adjacent to the seal.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
1. “Highest.”
2. As all Bro’s letters of this period that we have examined were sealed with wafers, his comment must be taken to refer to them, rather than to a signet for use with wax. Letters prior to this one were sealed with a ridged wafer that was apparently hard to undo without tearing the paper; use of this kind of wafer was discontinued with this and subsequent letters.
___________________
