3622. EBB to Henrietta Cook
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 255–256.
13. Dorset Street
Monday– [10 September 1855] [1]
How good you are to me, dearest dear Henrietta. I am touched to the heart by it– I wish I could feel as strongly that it was clearly safe for you to come–
This I cannot– And I do entreat dear Surtees to add to his kindness to me by looking warily, & not allowing you to run a single risk– Remember, we are not returning to Italy– We shall be here again next summer—and who knows but you may come here to be confined merrily, that we may all enjoy it together. (Henrietta smiles drearily at this ghastly joke of Ba’s.)
I wont think too much therefore of your absolutely coming this day week– Dearest—when you feel so unwell?——is it right? & wont you be miserable to see me, if you come?—in spite of yourself.
I want you to do something for me, Henrietta– Will you apply .. through Bummy or Robin if you like .. and get as soon as possible for me the address of Baron Sloet [2] or his descendant & heir, & learn whether it is still open to an epileptic patient to profit by his infallible remedy– Because there is a case—of a young boy [3] .. about fourteen—about which we are interested. Will you do this for me, dearest Henrietta?– And your petitioner will ever pray &c &c–
The Augustus Bayfords [4] called on us the other day,—& this morning there’s a note to ask us very kindly to dine with them on friday or saturday– Of course I write to refuse– We never dine out, & now less than ever—(though by the way we did do it en grand secret [5] at Mr Forster’s to meet young Lytton two days ago.) We have so much to do, that we can scarcely turn round– I have’nt written a line of my poem since leaving Florence– It’s impossible to write or think. And yet, we have lost at last the eternal visitors,—London being fairly emptied–
I write, out of breath with haste. May God bless you, & yours–
If you come .. how pleasant to compare notes about our boys!——
Your ever & ever affectionate
Ba–
If you come, say if Robert shall meet you & at what hour.
Address: Mrs Surtees Cook / Wilton / Taunton.
Publication: Huxley, p. 227 (in part).
Manuscript: British Library.
1. This letter is postmarked 11 September 1855, a Tuesday.
2. Antonie Baron Sloet van Oldruitenborgh (1769–1853), of The Netherlands. He and his wife, Isabelle Antoinette (née de Vaillant, 1773–1848), had four sons, three of whom were still alive. The London Medical Gazette for 29 October 1836 published a letter from one C.J.B. Aldis that contained Baron Sloet’s remedy for curing epilepsy. Aldis introduced the remedy by stating that the “Baron himself” was “anxious to give it publicity,” in spite of its being kept “a secret for more than two centuries” (p. 142). EBB had also referred to the secrecy of the treatment in letter 2750.
3. Unidentified.
4. Augustus Bayford (1809–74), EBB’s second cousin, and his wife Julia (née Ballard, 1816–84). They had one child, Robert Augustus (1838–1922). The Bayfords are listed in the Brownings’ address book for this period (AB-3) at “5 Hornton Villas, Kensington.”
5. “In great secrecy.”
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