3866. EBB to Arabella Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 65–66.
West Cowes,
Sunday [21 September 1856] [1]
My beloved Arabel, we go tomorrow,—and having been worked nearly to death today (to say nothing of the cold which is mortal) I have a moment to thank you in, for your two dear disappointing letters—for which, however, a letter from Henrietta had somewhat prepared me. Also, I announce the arrival of George’s parcel– The greatest care, I will take of it.
We are in tribulation,—not knowing which way to go to Taunton– Perhaps we may take George’s & your advice after all. I am so glad you like that revise– As to “burl[e]y brutal” [2] ——my dearest George, my dearest Arabel, you are both wrong. ‘Burley’ is rather complimentary than otherwise. When anybody shall call me ‘burly’—(in the spiritual world perhaps) I shall consider it satisfactory. ‘Brutal,’ is the specific word for English mobs– They are not frantic & cruel, as a French mob, when hard pressed, can be, (see French revolution) but ‘brutal’ they are, & must be—& nobody ever denied them to be, as far as I have heard. Really I scarcely know what I am writing– Only .. I’m so glad I’m not at Ventnor to see George’s face, after a proof I shall send you presently. Tell me if he thinks it “unfit writing for a lady’[’]—that I may put my head under the table-cloth. The volume is wearing to an end, and we are in the last ‘Book’ but one– Here we are at the end of September!– Its time to end, indeed.
Tell me of Papa—and tell me if you think the baths agree with you– I am happy to say that dear Mr Kenyon is surprisingly better these two days. Dr Hoffmeister [3] told Sir Charles Fellowes the other day, he wd have been better before, if he had taken the medecines,—but that generally [“]he took half–”!! (This, by Miss Bayley’s advice, observe) Dr Hoffmeister said, that “he had two different affections,—the heart-complaint (functional if not organic) and the dropsical tendency,—& that what was good for one was bad for the other—trenchant medecines being necessary, in this case, & strengthening ones in that—still, that it was absolutely necessary, of course, that he should submit to the remedy in both cases. Next week, he may be strengthened. And he will recover up to a certain point, and last, a long time, with care—although, of course, added the doctor, [“]an old man cannot be made young again.”
A very satisfactory opinion, to my mind,—and I shall go away in a less melancholy mood than I should have done a few days since–
In fact, dear Mr Kenyon looks & speaks quite differently– The breath is much relieved,—and he is able to take some part in conversation, which has been absolutely impossible to him all the time we have been here.
For my part I never witnessed suffering of so distressing a kind, before. It was like a prolonged death-agony–
So stupid, not to take the medecines.!– Miss Bayley says she never takes more than half the medecine prescribed to her! and so——!
No time for another word–
May God bless you, darling Arabel– Write to me. Alfred’s letter glows with hope– [4] May it be justified
Your own Ba
Tell me of Papa–
Address: Miss Barrett / Milanese Villa / Ventnor.
Publication: EBB-AB, II, 253–254.
Manuscript: Gordon E. Moulton-Barrett.
1. This letter is postmarked 22 September 1856, a Monday.
2. Aurora Leigh, VI, 32.
3. William Carter Hoffmeister (1817–90), surgeon to the Queen and other members of the royal family.
4. In letter 3873 EBB writes of Alfred’s “business at Madeira” and his expectation of a “consulship.”
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