79. Elizabeth Moulton to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 68–69.
[?London]
[1819] [1]
My very dear Ba
Your preface my dear Elizabeth was so formidable that I expected it wd end in nothing less than a call on me to pay the national dept [sic], or the seven millions which it is said will be required to build the Prince a new palace; [2] however like many other formidable alarms, it ended in trifle– I wish that of the Nation coud be so easily settled– with pleasure I comply with your request my dear Child, & I hope on all occasions you will never hesitate making known your wants [3] to Granny, who will ever be ready to meet your wishes as far as her abilities will allow, indeed my dear Ba you cannot know half the Love I bear you, not only as my Child, but for the many good & amiable qualities you possess– May you in riper years fulfil the early promise given & you cannot fail being the comfort & happiness of all connected with you– Mr Welsh [4] is so seldom to be met with, that I did not send to him, at the same time wishing you to be Independant I purchased the Musick & it becomes your own– I wish we coud witness your performance; we shd feel so affectionately Interested, as to lose all remembrance of the absence of Miss O Neil–
Treps best Love & will at all times pay postage with the greatest pleasure indeed her regard for all of you is not to be expressed, one, & all, share her warmest affections– Say all kind things to Mama for us & thanks for her few lines– Trep will write her soon–
I was delighted with my Stormys Letter, Kiss & tell him Granny thinks he writes very well indeed for a little Boy– We have not heard from Babes [5] these ten days, but we have no doubt of her being very well, as Minny promisd always to let us know whenever she was indispos’d.
Remember us affectionately to your Dearest Papa & all our Dr pets——
Dr Ba
Your Devotedly Attachd Granny
EM—
Compts to Mr Mc Swinney
Address, on integral page: Miss Barrett——
Docket, probably in Elizabeth Moulton’s hand, immediately above address: Drawing of several musical notes.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. Dated by reference to a letter from Storm and reference to the Prince Regent. Moulton-Barrett children usually started writing letters at about age four, and the earliest known dated one from storm was written in July 1819 (SD314). The Prince Regent became King George IV on 29 January 1820, upon the death of his father, George III.
2. Upon the death of Queen Charlotte, the Prince Regent’s mother, on 17 November 1818, Buckingham House fell into his hands. He threw himself into its reconstruction, with Nash as architect.
3. Underscored three times.
4. Of the firm of Welsh and Hawes, Music Sellers to His Majesty and the Royal Family, 246 Regent Street.
5. Arabella.
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