3999. EBB & RB to Henrietta Cook
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 24, 66–68.
| [In EBB’s hand] | [Florence] |
May 13 [1857] [1]
My beloved Henrietta, it is true that first words must be said—but it seems difficult to me to write just now—the more that I feel as if I could write nothing to give a human soul any comfort or pleasure. You did, dearest, when you wrote to me. How good you were to write so in kindness, & so considerately. Dearest, you see things as they are– We did what we could—it is true– And now God does what He can .. & He manages men & spirits better than we who are nothing before Him [2] .. & before ourselves too, in moments like the late ones–
I am quite well– Do not think of me except thinking that I love you—dear– Yes, I attend to Penini– Occupation is the only thing to keep one on one’s feet a little—that I know well– Only it is hard sometimes to force oneself into occupation .. there’s the hardness– And you .. you have the children, & dear Surtees,—and you trust God bravely & see things as they are. I thank God for you dearest.
Every day I expect another letter from our precious Arabel. For her plans, I would not for the world cross her, or that she should be crossed—but I do much wish that she would leave all decisions for the future & come out here for the summer with us among the mountains, & get time to make up her mind quietly. They wont break up everything at once in Wimpole Street—they cant, I should think, though I know nothing—but even if they did, dear Minny might stay for a few weeks or even months with Crow [3] quite happily & comfortably, till things were further arranged. I dont myself think that Storm & George will ever agree to Arabel’s living by herself in London—I dont think so: but I would’nt cross her—and she, for her precious part, must be reasonable, will be reasonable, dear darling that she is, & not give us all up for the “Refuge”. Still let her choose her life & be well .. only be well .. and we will none of us teaze her & vex her—only for the first, it does seem to me that she would be better here .. & with you a little, you say, first, for I do not forget your rights, dearest. She asks if we go to England .. feeling (I am sure she does) that it is impossible for us this year– Oh no—no– I could not go to England indeed.
The summer before last, Henrietta, I made up my mind that there was no hope of any outward sign of forgiveness on this earth. [4] I knew then that this which we have suffered, was before us to suffer– Yet when it came, it seemed insufferable as if unforseen.
Just before it came Mrs Martin wrote to tell me of a letter she wrote last August .. just when dear aunt Jane wrote her’s [5] .. & that it was replied to by the words that he “had forgiven” .. that he even “prayed for our well-being & well-doing–” Those were the words– Let us hold them fast, beloved Henrietta. He prayed for us. Our poor little children had so much from him. And we when we pray, may thank God for so much comfort.
I am well. Penini is good, except for his spirits which make him unmanageable sometimes, Wilson says. Early in April he began to learn music (having quite forgotten what he knew two years ago of course) & he goes everyday to a very good master [6] in this street for half an hour’s lesson—besides which, he practices with Robert– We pay about nine pence a lesson, & he gets on, Robert thinks. How is Altham’s French? I do wish dear little Mary would not catch cold so often. Are you sure, that that pretty garden is not damp? I sometimes hear of children suffering here from being confined to gardens with trees closely planted. Open walks agree better, they say.
I had a letter full of kindness from dearest aunt Jane, which Robert answered, & I will, some day. I never shall forget one thing she did for me—& for you– [7]
Alfred has gone, [8] and I believe I never sent him a message, poor Alfred .. and you dont say if he went by land or water– Did he go with Lord Elgin? [9]
Write, & tell me of yourself, & of the children, & of Surtees.
I take up books—but my heart goes walking up & down constantly through that house of Wimpole Street, till it is tired, tired. I dare say it is much the same with yours—only you have more children—& babies pull at their mother’s thoughts every moment,—which is good for you & happy.
May God bless you & keep you all.
In that world, spirits learn & grow faster. It has been a great help to me that of late years I have apprehended more of the ways of life in that world.
May God bless you .. He who holds the keys of Hades [10] .. bless you here & there. Be happy, dearest, & write much of yourself to your
ever attached Ba
Best love to dear Surtees & to the darlings. Peni has begun two or three letters.
[Continued by RB]
Dearest Henrietta, Ba has made an effort & written; she is no more shaken than was inevitable, & far less than I should have expected. How kind & good you were to write, disregarding your own grief for the sake of hers! It has been very strange & sudden & mournful: but I think there are some alleviating circumstances about it. Give my affectionate love to Surtees, & kiss all your dear little three for me. God bless you all, ever–
RB.
Address, in EBB’s hand: Angleterre viâ France / Mrs Surtees Cook / Wilton / Taunton.
Publication: Huxley, pp. 271–272 (in part).
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive; and British Library.
1. Year provided by postmark.
2. Cf. Isaiah 40:17.
3. Elizabeth Treherne (née Crow, 1817–86), EBB’s former lady’s maid, and her family lived at 78 Great College Street (now Royal College Street), Camden Town.
6. Giuseppe Del Bene (see letter 3935, note 19).
7. i.e., appealing to their father on their behalf for a reconciliation.
8. Alfred had been sent by the government to China; see letter 3983, note 13.
9. James Bruce (1811–63), 8th Earl of Elgin, had been appointed on 10 March 1857 high commissioner and plenipotentiary in China “for the settlement of various important matters between Her Majesty and the Emperor of China” (J.Y. Wong, Deadly Dreams: Opium, Imperialism, and the Arrow War (1856–1860) in China, Cambridge, 1998, p. 380). In effect, Elgin had full powers to conduct military operations and negotiate treaties. He was instructed to revise the current trade agreement between the two countries to include: “Opening all ports along the China coast and banks of rivers to foreign trade. … Permission for British merchants to purchase the produce of China at the place of its production, with no duties payable on such articles in their passage to the coastal ports for embarkation. … Legalization of the opium trade” (p. 308). China was the largest market for the opium that the British produced in India. Palmerston’s government took it for granted that military force would be required to compel the Chinese to accept such treaty revisions.
10. Cf. Revelation 1:18.
___________________
