21. EBB to Arabella Graham-Clarke (grandmother)
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 16–17.
Hope End
Janry 9 1815
My dearest Grandmama,
Thank you a thousand times for your sweet letter it was indeed quite delightful– I must tell you the news that past since I left you all. As we were in our beds I heard a noise so I cald to Bro & he thought it was only my fun But he cald to Rosa [1] when she came the watter was all runing down the wall so Papa & Grandmama Moulton & dearest Jane [2] came up stairs & she was obliged to go in Grandmamas room Bro & Henrietta in Janes, & Sam in Little Babys [3] who is very well– My Doll is not broken yet But Grandmama Brought me a beautyfut [sic] one & then at Christmas she gave me another little one which has some nice clothes & a pretty fur cap & a cloth coat nightgown & night cap &c– Dearest Mama is better & the sweet little Baby indeed all of us. I was very sory that dearest Bum went to Ireland without coming here. whenever I hear the dogs bark it puts me inmind [sic] of Button [4] —who I am sory to hear has almost lost his tricks[.] I hope you will soon come here as we will certainly go abroad in the Spring [5] good bye dearest Grandmama & believe me your ever affecate Child
Elizabeth B Barrett
I send the books we brought from Fenham[.] I hope Grandpapas leg is well—
Papas respectful complemints & Grandmamas Love & Janes regards to all of you—
Address, on integral page: Mrs Graham Clarke / Fenham / Newcas[t]le on Tyne.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
1. In the course of a discussion on names in a letter to Mary Russell Mitford dated 15 January 1840, EBB wrote: “was there not a ‘stern unbending Rosalinda Theodora Mary’ … who officiated as nurse when I lived in a nursery?” A letter of 25 October 1815 (SD236) from Mary Moulton-Barrett to her mother shows that Rosa accompanied EBB and her parents to Paris in the autumn of 1815.
2. Jane Graham-Clarke, EBB’s maternal aunt.
3. Charles John Moulton-Barrett, born 28 December 1814.
4. A pug dog in the Fenham household. EBB wrote an unpublished verse “To the Memory of Sir William Button” in September 1817. “Poems by EBB,” Berg Collection, contains a copy in the hand of Mary Moulton-Barrett (see Reconstruction, D1047–48).
5. Edward Moulton-Barrett had a plan to take his whole family to France for an extended stay. This did not develop. Instead, EBB and her parents made a brief visit to Paris in the autumn.
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