4998. RB to George Goodin Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 7–9.
1. Chichester Road, Upper Westbourne Terrace.
Dec. 21. ’61.
My dear George,
It only this moment strikes me that you may have wondered at hearing nothing from me about the investment of the proceeds of the sale of the “David Lyon” on Pen’s account: the reason is that I have not got, nor am likely to get, a farthing of it for some time to come. The estimable “Boddingtons” who sold the shares on a mere verbal assurance (quite warranted, of course) from Chorley that Arnould would agree to the measure,—on the presentation of Arnould’s written warrant to that effect, almost three months ago, first of all kept silence for six weeks till I wrote to ask the meaning of it: they then replied, that they returned me “the paper purporting to be signed by Sir J. Arnould” & would pay the money (and last year’s dividend) when duly authorized by him. I answered this pleasant charge of felony (is it not that?) by sending the letter which had conveyed to me the warrant in question, about the genuineness of which there could be no possible doubt: at the same time I congratulated Boddington’s on having been able to get that money on no sort of authority at all, which, on being asked to account for, they could not give up on a signed written authority: they returned to this, in a modified tone, that they would send the Bill of Sale to Bombay at once, and on its return, properly signed, would pay the money and dividend to Chorley: the object being clearly to keep the said money & take its interest as long as practicable—for had they told me at once that they objected to the written authority I gave them, it would have saved six weeks: & what is the use of Arnould’s authorising the “Sale” which has taken place as they now admit, without his permission? The ground of demurring, I believe, was that Arnould had added “(signed)” to his signature—but by sending the letter which accompanied the paper and gave a reason for its detachment, all doubt was dissipated, as I said. I shall have to wait at least another month or two, & then, probably some other excuse will be found for touching the interest a little longer.
If I get it, & when I get it, I will consult with you as to the investment to be recommended to Chorley: were the money mine nominally, I need hardly say Messrs Boddington should not have treated so familiarly—choosing what should be authority enough, for their advantage, & no authority, for mine—but it is the Trustees’ business, & Pen must suffer accordingly. By the way, can you tell me who has the Trust-deed,—did you see it at Mr Hawthorne’s? I should much like to see under what conditions I lie in other respects. Can you give me Mr Hawthorne’s address, [1] if he has the Deeds—or is it still as it used to be? I ought to observe that I never applied, or dreamed of applying to “Boddingtons” for the money—only begged that they would pay it to the Trustee—with the effect that you have heard. (Had the House been an Italian one?)
I have scribbled this in a few disengaged minutes, & leave myself no time to add a word beside—yet a word must be added to thank you most heartily for your beneficence to Pen: he has fared sumptuously every day since, & never forgets the founder of the feast.
Arabel & Octavius are very well, you know—tho’ Arabel is not so well, having a severe rheumatic affection,—you may imagine how invaluable her goodness is to me—I see nobody else. But my arrangements for Pen’s education are getting completer, & I shall soon have a little more time. Pen is quite well, at his German lesson, a few door’s off, [2] or he would add his truest love to that of
Yours affectionately ever
Robert Browning.
Does the addition “signed” really invalidate a document the signature to which is indisputable? I thought the maxim in Law was “plus non vitiat.” [3] But my attack, had I been Trustee, should have gone on the Sale without even oral authority, since they stood upon “authority.”
P.S. On turning the page I discover that I have been writing on a piece of Pen’s music– I despair of finding time to copy on a fair sheet & can only beg your indulgence! [4]
[Continued on the inside flap of the envelope by Arabella Barrett]
Send Locke [5] to the Station on Tuesday for a basket. AB–
Address: George G. Barrett Esq. / Warnicombe House / —near Tiverton. / Devon.
Publication: B-GB, pp. 278–280.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. Robert Hawthorn (1791–1869), co-executor of John Kenyon’s estate, is listed in the Brownings’ address book of this period (AB-4) at 34 Gower Street.
2. At 31 Blomfield Road; see letter 4988, note 4.
3. “Too much does no harm.”
4. RB has written this paragraph in and around three musical staffs with notation.
5. Unidentified, but presumably a servant.
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