61. Elizabeth Moulton to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 52–53.
[?London]
[ca. January 1818] [1]
I trust this will find you my dearest Elizabeth and the rest of the dear Circle, in the enjoyment of perfect health—long may such blessing be yours my dear Child, and may each New Year bring an increase of happiness to all my beloved pets at Hope End, to all of whom, Individually, you will offer my good wishes & best affections—— I have great pleasure in telling you our dearest Babes is quite well, & in fine spirits, indeed my Beloved Ba, she promises to be very clever, no present seems so welcome to her as a Book, two hours every Morng she is closeted with Minny at her lessons—she send[s] her very best Love to all—— Your poor Granny has been confind to the House for the last three Weeks—I have only just risen from my Bed & finding the Box on the wing, [2] I coud not resist the temptation of enclosing a few lines to you; the Box is directed to Storm knowing it will please him to distribute to each a small parcel—the Cake is yours, with a frock &c—six pocket Handkerchiefs, dont mind their being coloured ones, they do very well for the Country– Harry has the same with my best Love– Mamas Account of Darling Storm is quite enchanting, tell him Gr Ma is very very happy to hear he is such a good Boy—— Doctr Nuttall [3] was here last Eveng & begs to be remembered to all of you; I assure you he has been extremly kind in his attention to me—— I hope you have a clearer Atmosphere than we have, there is now so thick a fog that we can scarcly see—— If Grd Mama is with you present our best Love & every good Wish for her happiness, the same to dear Bum Charlotte & Jane—— Trep joins me in best affections
Your Sincerely attachd
Granny EM—
Remember us Kindly to Mr Mac Swiney
Kiss dear Papa & Mama for us——
Address, on integral page: Miss Barrett.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. Dating based on internal references. After spending the summer of 1817 at Ramsgate, the family and Mr. McSwiney returned to Hope End. Arabella was left behind with Minny and they made occasional visits to Mrs. Moulton in London.
2. Messages, parcels—even produce—according to the custom of the time, would be sealed in a narrow deal box and transported from one household to another by public coach.
3. George Ricketts Nuttall, M.D., born in Jamaica, was admitted a Licentiate of the College of Physicians in 1817, and was for some years at the Westminster Dispensary. He died in 1831, at the age of 43. His family was known to the Moulton-Barretts through the Jamaican connection, and Mary Trepsack, writing to Elizabeth Barrett Williams on 2 October 1810 (SD144), said: “Mrs. Nuttal’s son is now here, he is going to Jamaica. … I hear he is to be patronized by many—he is a good looking young man—& every respect his fathers exact counterpart.”
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