2485. EBB to George Goodin Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 13, 159–160.
[London]
Wednesday. [15 July 1846] [1]
My dearest George the first word must be a congratulation to yourself & to us on the meaning of this day, your birthday, [2] & earnest wishes from my heart, that you may have as many reasons, through much happiness hereafter, for loving life, as we have for loving you, .. dearest George!—for holding you in all love & esteem!
Your letter I have, & thank you for—but you will know by this time, by the letter of Talfourd’s I enclosed to you, that the whole trouble was built upon the clouds, & his negligence .. very pardonable, for the rest, under the peculiar circumstances, as he properly says, of ‘hurry & horror’; though before he allowed Forster to apprize me, through Mr Kenyon he should have been more accurate .. For the rest, my dearest George, any jealousy was out of the question, be sure—just as it would have been for me to retire from a duty of that sort on the plea of ill health, my health being good enough now to be no source of excuses that way. It was only the impossibility, as I saw it, which hindered me—not to say that in my secret soul I was unwilling to assume such a responsibility– Oh—if you thought it covetable by Talfourd or another, you were three times wrong– But enough of this.
Mr Browning only told me enough to make me full & direct in my explanation to Talfourd .. to make me explain that what I took in was of no pecuniary value. You see how Talfourd answers on that point. So it is all right. Mr Browning said not a word that he was not obliged, through his feeling for me, to say––& it was just that reserve, perhaps, which made me exaggerate to myself what might have been said. For certainly he was very angry with Miss Mitford, & with poor Haydon even himself––but now an end to all this!– George, do not say a word to Talfourd on the subject—and if he mentions it to you, which he will not perhaps, be brief, & let it pass. There is nothing to be vexed about now– And I am quite well.
The Hedleys dined here on monday with Mr Bevan—& the latter did not hazard his reputation of a sensible man by saying twenty words. For the rest, he sang .. he does not understand music but he has a good voice, they say—& he is admitted too to be gentlemanly. Arabella is in the highest possible spirits. Do not mention this .. but the income is said to be only five or six hundred a year, so you see that no worldly motives are in case. For my part, I think the better, for it, both of Arabella & her mother. Do not mention this, now. They go into Switzerland after the marriage, then return to England, then go to Paris for the present .. & to live, I dare say. The day is not fixed yet .. but about a fortnight may see the end of it.
Since the last sentence was written, I have seen Mr Bevan. A sensible face, a facile expression in conversation, a gentlemanly manner. Above six feet of a man, well-attested, therefore! I like him, I think. I heard, before seeing him, that his peculiar subject was ecclesiastical architecture,—which, .. being by no means my subject, nor one to which I had affinities in the way of feeling, .. I resolved to keep clear of it .. & began to talk a thousand miles off it, about French society. In a minute it was observed that he never could find a frenchman capable of entering with proper reverence into the subject of .... ecclesiastical architecture! So there was no help—— I was enfoncée– [3] He is a Puseyite to the height of possible Puseyism—has studied the question, has formed his opinions .. can talk them out well .. & I liked him, I assure you, notwithstanding all. Yet to hear a man say that it was awful audacity to think for oneself on church-subjects .. it seemed to me strangely foolish. The people I talk to, are so much in a higher purer atmosphere, .. that I quite started to hear such a thing from a man with a sensible face. It seemed fabulous that such a thing should be held in earnest, by that man with the sensible face! A man superior to the masses, of course, too——though I am a little spoilt for ordinary men, through having listened to the gods here.
But I like Mr Bevan. I really do. How sorry I am to hear of Isabel’s illness! [4] Did you hear of its being desperate, from good authority? My love to them all. May God bless you, dearest George.
Ever I am your attached Ba
Publication: B-GB, pp. 146–148.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. George’s birthday was 15 July. The year is based on EBB’s reference to the forthcoming marriage of her cousin Arabella Hedley, which took place on 4 August 1846.
2. His 30th.
3. “Done for.”
4. EBB’s cousin, Isabella Horatia Graham-Clarke (née Butler, 1822–46) was the 3rd daughter and 7th child of Sir Thomas and Lady Frances Butler. She had married another cousin, Leonard Edmund Graham-Clarke (1817–83) in November 1843. According to The Carlow Sentinel of 30 October 1846, she died on “September 26, at Kinnersley Rectory, Herefordshire, after a long and painful illness, which she bore with Christian fortitude, aged 24 years.”
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