274. EBB to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 81–83.
[Eastnor Castle]
Sunday [ca. October 1827] [1]
My dearest Henrietta,
You want to know something about me today; but I have little or nothing to tell you. Mr & Mrs Lechmere [2] did not come yesterday on account of the latter’s illness; & whether they come or not today seems doubtful. Today Mr & Mrs Higgins [3] dine here; & tomorrow Lord Downing [4] is to multiply nobility. Another rather stupid Evening;—in which I learnt nothing but “the unknown Gentleman’s” name & qualifications! He is a Mr Pringle, who “never read a book thro’ in his life”,—according to his own very frank confession. At dinner Mr Martin called across the table—“Say nothing against Maria Commeline,—for she is an especial friend of Miss Barrett’s! By the bye, Miss Barrett, I have lost all opinion of your good taste, since you profess to admire that young Lady!.”
“I never professed to admire her: I said that I liked her”!
“And do you mean to say that you can ever like what you dont admire?”
“Indeed I do.”
“Well! you astonish me! That is the most profligate sentiment I ever heard”.
Every body laughed; & I was a little put out of countenance, as you may suppose. Nevertheless I do like & admire Mr Martin,—whose clever whimsicalities make his going away this morning quite a loss & regret to me. I walked out yesterday with Mrs Martin & Mrs Hanford—& liked them both. A very pressing invitation for me to go to Wollershill! [5]
As Lady Margaret wished to see a part of my poem, I read her a few sheets, & when I had done she begged they might remain with her till I left Eastnor. I dont mind telling you exactly what she said.
She said the work shewed “great mind & thought always,—& poetical power frequently:” observing in criticism that I was “too metaphysical now & then.” I pleaded the now & then,—in extenuation,—& she admitted my metaphysics upon my plea. She also made Papa’s objection to a few of my dear old words! [6]
We have been to church twice today—& heard a much better sermon from Mr Higgins Senior [7] than I thought he could have preached. The text was from Peter—“Grow in grace, & in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” [8] –
Nothing more have I heard about the bazaar—& dont like asking– Mind make Mrs Martin go! By the bye, I did hear Lady Margaret say to Lady Eastnor—“I should really like to go on Wednesday, & to take the children who never saw any thing of the kind![”]
Daly’s waiting has made me scramble over this paper with pen & thought, rather than write. I feel much more familiar here than I did—Lady Somers particularly kind & attentive!
Best love to every body from
Your most attached Ba.
Dr Card [9] told Lady Somers the other day that Mr Boyd had sent me a poetical address. Mind write!– I cannot say at what hour on Tuesday I can get away,—but it shall be as early as possible. Mr & Mrs Lechmere are come– So Anne tells me; but I have not seen them,—nor shall do so till dinner. They stay till Tuesday.
Address, on integral page: Miss H. Barrett / Hope End.
Publication: None traced.
Source: Transcript in editors’ file.
1. Dated by references to some of the same people as in EBB’s previous letter from Eastnor (no. 271), and from further mention of the bazaar, indicating that it deals with the same visit.
2. Edward Hungerford Lechmere (1792–1856) and his wife Maria Clara (née Murray), son and daughter-in-law of Sir Anthony Lechmere (1766–1849).
3. The reference later in this letter to Mr. Higgins, Sr. (see note 7 below) suggests that this was one of his sons, probably Samuel, as he and his wife lived closer to Eastnor than the other married sons.
4. Burke’s Peerage does not list Downing as a current or extinct title, neither does it show Downing as a courtesy title for a peer’s son; perhaps EBB misheard the name of the expected visitor.
5. Woolashill Hall, the Hanfords’ estate.
6. This poem was almost certainly “The Development of Genius,” unpublished during EBB’s lifetime but included in HUP, II, 99–133 (see Reconstruction, D731). EBB had shown the manuscript to her father in February, and his objections to it can be found in vol. 1, Appendix III, pt. 4 (see Reconstruction, D1305).
7. The Rev. Joseph Higgins (1771?–1847) had been Rector of Eastnor since 1795.
8. II Peter, 3:18.
9. Dr. Henry Card (1779–1844), Vicar of Great Malvern and Boyd’s friend.
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