35. EBB to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (uncle)
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 27–28.
[Hope End]
[ca. December 1816] [1]
My dearest Sam
Strong as were the words of your letter, they were felt with double force coming from one who I love so dearly; I never thought you ever suspected me of an untruth, which that word “invent” implies, (as I wish to be sincere); I hope the shining prospect of a Venetian chain would not in the least induce me to implore your forgiveness more earnestly, than I do now, for I own I was wrong, nor can I justify myself, But it is I may truly say, my intention to avoid for the future, those direful enemies bad pens, and dark evenings; indeed I am afraid you could not read my thanks to you for the beautiful vinegar box, and earrings, which are the admiration of every body, and for which I do not know how to thank you; I have finished “Telemaque,” [2] and have read one, or two of Racines [3] plays, which I like very much, I have a great curiosity to know your opinion of Southey, [4] as every one here declares against him allowing him very few beauties, and thinking him unintelligable; for my part I must say he is one of my favorite poets; do you not think some parts of “Thalaba” “The curse of Kehama” &c are very beautiful, and “Roderic” [5] particularly so? Bum is the only person who agreed with me, indeed she only read “Thalaba,” but she thought it both beautiful, and descriptive, I wish you would recommend to me an entertaining book, to read as I am quite at a loss for one; Are the “Persian Tales” [6] worth reading? I have begun Latin, and I have gotten as far in the Grammar as “Propria quæ maribus”; [7] I do not like it at all, I think it is twice as difficult as French, but I suppose like many stupid things, it is very useful. Poor Bro I believe, has not much more taste for it than I have, but he is now so far advanced in it, as to translate the Latin Bible; he has not yet gone to school Papa cannot yet determine where to send him to. Funny Sam is very well, and amuses us more than anything else in the house by his odd tricks, and strange gestures; he is always ready to confess the micheif [sic] he does, and truth makes every thing that is expected from him yet; he does his lessons every day for one hour with dearest Mama, and would like to ride every day too if he had permission, but Moses [8] is not often disengaged for him to ride on; he always takes charge of your letters, which he treasures up with great care. We have some pretty rabbits, one is milkwhite, with red eyes, the other is black and white; The other night one of them got into the rack, and the horse bit its tail off, but it is quite well now; I have also got a little goldfinch, which sings beautifully, and a hen and chickens which I rear’d myself, and who fly [to my] shoulder, and eat out of my hand; Indeed we should be quite happy if we had you here, I hope [you] do not mean to stay another year abroad? I can assure you, funny Sam has not forgot you, he is quite delighted with his ten shillings, which he says he means to give to the poor people; the money you sent us has done a great [deal] of good by giving clothes to the poor people, and we hope it will do still more as we intend to have a soup shop, for which they pay a penny a quart.– Papa has made us the handsome present of the quarter of an ox, which will help us greatly.–
Hope End is very much improved and is much alterd, indeed I do not think you will know it again, I am sorry to say nobody has seen our poor Quails since they were let out, I am afraid they are all dead. I do not know whether I am to write to you in French or in English, but I am inclined to hope that you will forgive me writing this in English as I wish to be clear in the expression of the regret I experience from your being angry with me; pray write soon that I may be assured of your forgiveness.– I hope you will have a merry Christmas The grey poney is now very quiet and carries Bro on her back very often Sam told me to tell Monnies [9] that he was to come back very soon; Papa, Mama, Bro, Henrietta Sam Arabella, Storm and the little Baby, send their love to you and a thousand kisses, and
I am
Your ever affectionate, & repentant child,
Elizabeth B Barrett.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
1. December dating conjectured from mention of Christmas. The year 1816 derives from the mention of EBB’s beginning to learn Latin, as her first recorded writing of Latin was in May 1816 (see letter 29, note 1). The year is confirmed by the reference to “the little Baby,” George, born 15 July 1816.
2. Les Aventures de Télémaque (1699), a didactic romance by François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon (1651–1715).
3. Jean Racine (1639–99), French dramatist, author of Andromaque and Phèdre.
4. Robert Southey (1774–1843), the Poet Laureate.
5. Thalaba the Destroyer (1800), The Curse of Kehama (1810), and Roderick, The Last of the Goths (1814).
6. The Thousand and One Days: Persian Tales (1783).
7. “Pertaining to the sea.”
8. A Shetland pony, great favourite of the children at Hope End. EBB wrote in an undated prose essay (see Appendix III, part 5): “Her poney, Moses, had a tail longer by nine times than the patriarch’s beard … a black poney with a ragged mane.”
9. Apparently somebody travelling with Samuel Moulton-Barrett. He may have been employed in the household, as Mary Moulton-Barrett, writing to Storm while he was staying in London with his uncle and grandmother in 1821 (SD372), said: “How kind Monies has been to shew you so many pretty things.”
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