Correspondence

428.  EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 325–326.

[Hope End]

August 24th [1831] [1]

My dearest friend,

Tho’ you entirely “acquit Dr Card”, I am very sure that what he did, you are the very last person in the world to have done. Recollect the circumstances, well known to everybody, under which Hope End is advertised,—& the other circumstance of Papa’s daughters being there. Now would any very considerate & feeling person have taken advantage of the advertisement & joined a party of pleasure,—remember, a mere party of pleasure,—to go there & remind them of their distresses? Oh no!——

I never supposed otherwise than that the Walls were the sole movers & instigators of the measure. Everything you know “after its kind”!,——which is true of creeping things as well as of leviathans!– It is amusing that Mrs Cliffe should have told me only last Sunday a long story about “dear Millicent” who when her uncle asked her to ride over to Hope End on account of its being advertised, refused at once. “She would not do such a thing on any account”,—and Mrs Cliffe estimated her amiability accordingly. I wonder what the estimation will be now!

I did not understand until today that this estate is valued at £32,000, without the timber which is considerable,—so that altogether the sum is nearly £50,000. It is not probable—is it?—that any man would purchase to such an amount without examining his purchase,—& only one gentleman has been here with that apparent object. He seemed to think more of disturbing us than of examining the premises, & would look only into the lower rooms, tho’ Lane asked him to go up stairs. By the way, his conduct was a contrast to that of some other people. He walked as lightly as he could that his footsteps might not be heard by us, & seemed unwilling to see even as many rooms as he did see, for fear of “disturbing or distressing Mr Barrett’s family”.

I have found—ferretted out, Mr Kidd for you. [2] Thank you for your letter. You cannot think how pleased I was to see the signature—which does not mean that I was pleased to get to the end of the letter: because I saw the signature first.

Yours affectionately

E B Barrett.

Address, on integral page: H S Boyd Esqr

Publication: Diary, pp. 284–285.

Manuscript: Wellesley College.

Enclosure:

1. Catechesis mystagogica — cap 7.

2. Catechesis mystagogica — cap. 3.

4. Catechesis mystagogica — cap 1–2. 3. 4. 5. 6—9.

In the 5th mystagogica, cap. 8, occurs the expression—την τνευματικην θυσιαν, την αναιμακτον λατσειαν. The 9th & 10th chapters of the same, refer to praying for the dead, as well as to the Eucharist: the 21st & 22d describing in detail the fit mode of receiving the Eucharist.

In the 4th Catechesis. cap. 35. there is an enumeration of the books of the old Testament– The five books of Moses—Joshua—Judges. Ruth. 4 books of Kings. 2 of Chronicles. 2 of Esdra– Esther. Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Solomon’s Song. Isiah. Jeremiah with Baruch, the Lamentations & Σπτςολη Esekiel– Daniel.

The New Testament is referred to in the suceeding chapter. The four Gospels. The Acts. The catholic epistles of James Peter John & Jude. 14

Epistles of Paul. ταδα λοιπα παντα εξω κεισθω ενδευτεσω. και όσα μεν εν εκκλησιαις μη αναγινωσκεται, ταυτά μηδε κατα σεαυτον αναγινωσκε, καθως ηκρσας.

Before the enumeration of the old Test. books, is this counsel. τωτων τας εικοσι δυο βιβλους ανγινωσκε πσος δε τα απο κσυφα μηδεν εχε κοινον. ταυτας μονας μεδετα σπουδαιως, άς εν και Σκκλησια μετα παρρησιας αναγινωσκομεν. πολυσυ φσονιμωτεφοι και ευλαθεζεσοι ησαν όι αποστολοι, και όι αφχαιοι επισκσποι όι πης εκκληοιας πσοσταται, όι ταυτας παφα δαντες.

1. Dated by Diary, p. 101, entry of 24 August.

2. In the album at Wellesley with this series of letters to Boyd is a paper containing a list of biblical comments by Kidd. It is possible that EBB refers to this; alternatively, she may be speaking of Kidd’s book, the loan of which she had requested in letter 328, and which she may not have returned.

___________________

National Endowment for the Humanities - Logo

Editorial work on The Brownings’ Correspondence is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This website was last updated on 3-28-2024.

Copyright © 2024 Wedgestone Press. All rights reserved.

Back To Top