222. Mary Moulton-Barrett to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 224–226.
[Hope End]
Tuesday Nov. 23d [1825] [1]
My beloved Ba: I am full of anxiety to hear whether dearest Papa’s letter, was intended to prevent Bro’s going to school, or whether he was gone before it arrived. Today, I trust this anxiety may be satisfied, & that also, respecting my dear Mother from whom I have never heard for three weeks, tho’ she purposed setting off in that following the date of her last letter. There lies your wonderful letter before me, containing a mystery, which Papa & I in vain endeavour to solve; he suspects you have had some proposal, (not of a matrimonial nature) from Mr Duncan, while I have suggested that it might be from Mr Blaquiere, to which he answers, “the Pope is as likely” [2] —so to prevent further conjugal discord, & more necessarily, to satisfy that torment Curiosity, common I maintain, to man & woman, pray let us further into yr secret as soon as you may see it fitting. I can only say, that nothing can be more desireable than the lucre you mention, save & except health & comfort, but I own, I should grieve to see you fagging to the destruction of both, at some periodical publication, which may be the subject, of this “imposing” proposal—but you are launched on the world as Authoress, & must I suppose be contented to purchase fame at the Common Cost.– I like the prospectus of your new nurstling, as far as I can see of it, & so does Papa. Our greater interest turns however to that immediately forthcoming: I trust it must speedily now be emancipated from Mr D. & his Devils; are there to be any advertisements? We are grieved to hear of dearest Granny’s asthma: has she tried the 13 cloves of garlic in a pint of spring water; buried 3 or 4 days, & a cup full taken night & morng– it has done much good. Your acct of all her affection, & the unceasing kindness you receive, went to our hearts: it is indeed, dearest Ba, passing words! Let me see what I have to tell you in return for all the gratification of mind & heart afforded by your dear letter! Nothing I believe but that I walked thro’ the mud to Church on Sunday, accompanied by Ann, [3] who was much smarter than me—as you will have little difficulty in believing– Mr Hockin [4] was full of enquiry after you & Hentta & did duty in his best manner: The Sunday before, E. Pew had left poor Mrs Mutlow [5] as well as usual, when she got up: & having lighted the fire, she returned & found that the poor sufferer had got up to put on her stockings, & in the act of putting on her garter, had dropped down dead! A happy release I trust from extraordinary suffering– Mrs Barker is really greatly better– On Sunday she came here in time to hear the morning service, dined merrily with Minny, came in to Evening prayers, & as it was a bad Eveng, slept here, as happy as possible, & really quite well– She is so delighted with hearing Papa, that she begs she may sometimes be allowed to come on Sundays– I wish you could see Arabel pasting up the school room windows, & hear her exclamations of delight at the 9 cock pheasants parading their beautiful plumage on the lawn! A note from Miss Commeline today tells me Laura [6] has been in bed some days with the influenza, & all their servants have been ill– She is still anxious to pay her visit here, so long talked of, when you return– She says of “Judah” [7] that the lines are very beautiful, written with great power, very unlike female poets!! They seem hopeless of poor James C. [8] ever recovering his power of hearing– I am over head & ears in debt in the visiting way (morning) duty, I mean, particularly to the Cliffes, [9] who have been here several times– Miss C. continues all her religious activity & is as great a favorite with Papa as ever– I am glad to hear Mazzochetti is in London where his talents must be estimated, & ensure him prosperity– We grieve at your acct of Louisa B[utler]—pray give my love & kind wishes to them– No letter from Bro today, induces us to suppose he is not gone to school– No letter too from Fenham!– E. Ridley [10] gives a better acct of herself & Mother—they are at Abinger [11] —go to their Cottage at Hertingfordbury in Feby– Miss Clives [12] Husband has their stall at Gloucr We are talking of walking over to call on Mrs Trant some fine frosty morning, tho’ it is easier to talk of than to execute 9 miles. Daly [13] wants to know “when he is to see his friends. Miss Barrett & Hentta he is afraid they’ll be forgetting him”. Every body here seems to have the measles but us—they are very bad in Ledbury– All are quite well here thank God– Our quiet & early hours seem to agree to admiration with dearest Papa—I never saw him look better in my life—last night we sat in the Drawing Room for the purpose of having Music, but he had no sooner begun to sing than he found out it would not do without Audience, & more warmth– We are indeed more cozy in the Library—this cold weather– I am so beset with talkers, that I know not what I am writing, & had better come to a close– I must however tell you of Seppy’s sweetness tonight, in giving up his pencil, that Alfred might draw, tho’ he was watching him anxiously, to take his turn when he was tired– there never was such a Chesterfield in petticoats. [14] A letter from Ann Surtees [15] gives a tolerable acct of the poor girls– I know not yet what they are to do.
Dominic T[rant]– we hear is at Malvern. Our united loves & kisses to you all, Granny & Treppy ever included in our dearest affections.
Your own Mother
Addressed and franked by EBB’s uncle on integral page: London Novr twenty five 1825 / Miss Barrett / Mrs Moulton’s / Hastings. / S M Barrett.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: British Library.
1. This is how the letter was dated, although Tuesday was the 22nd, not 23rd. The year comes from the postmark.
2. James Duncan had undertaken to publish EBB’s An Essay on Mind, although he did not do so until 25 March 1826. Mr. Blaquiere is thought to be the Edward Blaquiere who was an ardent advocate of Greek independence, as was EBB. He had published several works on this subject.
3. Ann Mason (afterwards Gent, 1805–89), born at Colwall, Herefordshire, was a maid in the Moulton-Barrett household from 1822 to 1835.
4. The Rev. John Pearce Hockin, Rector of Coddington since 1810.
5. These two ladies have not been identified; presumably they were local residents.
6. Daughters of the Rev. James Commeline, Sr., Vicar of Redmarley D’Abitot, 6 miles S.E. of Ledbury. The family were friends of long standing; a letter of 19 February 1815 (SD221) speaks of their being house-guests.
7. We have not been able to identify this poem. The word “Judah” does not appear in Gladys Hudson’s concordance of EBB’s published works. Also see SD541.
8. The son of James Commeline, Sr.
9. The Allen Cliffes of Mathon. The eldest daughter, Mary, later married Thomas Best, and published several works of a religious nature.
10. Elizabeth Ridley (d. 1867) was the only daughter of Henry Ridley, D.D. (1753–1825), Prebendary of Gloucester and Rector of Hertingfordbury, and his wife Frances (née Surtees). She was the niece by marriage of Mary Moulton-Barrett’s aunt, Mary Surtees (née Altham). EBB gave her a copy of The Battle of Marathon (now at Yale, Reconstruction, B6).
11. At this time, the rector of Abinger was Henry John Ridley (1778–1834), Elizabeth Ridley’s brother.
12. The daughter of Edward Bolton Clive, former M.P. for Hereford.
13. Groundsman and dairyman at Hope End.
14. A reference to Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773), politician and man of letters.
15. EBB’s great-aunt, Mary Altham, had married Aubone Surtees. Ann Surtees is thought to be Mary Anne (née Hawkins), the wife of their nephew John Surtees.
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