304. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 141–142.
[London]
Friday Morng [Postmark: 16 May 1828]
My dear Ba
I have but a moment to write, & that must be dedicated to essentials namely that you should demand of Bro £20 to forward to me here in order to enable me to pay, & return to you. He must also give Mama what she wants to pay the wages that are due– I was disappointed in not hearing from Hope End this morning, to-morrow I trust will fully compensate by a cheering account of her, of whom we have been so long solicitous– I dined with the Bayfords on Wednesday & passed a very pleasant day, I found them all well– Irvine unfortunately for me has gone to Scotland for 6 weeks; [1] He & the whole Party are absolutely beside themselves in consequence of the repeal of the Test & Corporation Acts, [2] insomuch that ere long I suspect they will proclaim this Country to be only a Street in the great City of Babylon & consequently doomed with her to destruction, oh this Church & State cry, how doth it commingle things in their origin & nature adverse, how doth it strive to subject to itself the glorious Church of Christ to the Church raised by the Lord of Man; but it cannot be, for Popery the natural religion of the heart must succumb to Christianity the revealed & the only pure religion, the Pope of the Vatican, the Pope of the various Kingdoms & the Pope of the individual Man, must fly & be no more heard of, before him, who has declared under our present dispensation, that his Kingdom is not of this World, and therefore should not be mixed up with state affairs– But enough of this, I am grieved to see Men, who I believe to be Christians, take so unworthy part, unworthy of their high calling—& which leads to great inconsistency & contradiction– To-day I dine with Sir Js Scarlett, Lady Scarlett I am sorry to say continues extremely ill [3] – Tell Bell with my best love that I have executed all her commissions, with the exception of her Watch which I have not got back yet– Every blessing attend you my dearest Loves
Ever prays yr affectionate
EMB —
Address, on integral page: Miss Barrett / Hope End / Ledbury / Herefordshire. Redirected in hand of Edward Moulton-Barrett (brother): Mrs Trant / Malvern Wells / Worcestershire.
Docket: EBB used a blank page to make eight groupings each containing ten desires. The first of these listings starts with “A sea voyage”; the last ends with “Knowledge” (Reconstruction, D1469).
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive and British Library.
1. When in London, Edward Moulton-Barrett frequently heard Edward Irving preach at his church in Regent Street. Irving conducted preaching tours in Scotland in 1828 and 1829.
2. The Test Act of 1673, intended to exclude Catholics from positions of power, directed all officers of the government, civil and military, to receive the Sacrament according to the forms of the Church of England. This requirement, as a qualification for office, was removed by an amending Act that was given the Royal Assent on 9 May 1828.
3. James Scarlett, later Lord Abinger (1769–1844), had acted as legal guardian to Edward Moulton-Barrett and his brother Sam. Even after they reached their majority, he continued to advise them on matters of business. He had married, in 1792, Louise Henrietta Campbell. She died on 8 March 1829.
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