495. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 121–123.
Sidmouth.
Wednesday. [Postmark: 4 February 1835]
My dear Mr Boyd,
It is so very long since I heard from you that I must begin to write to you now, less with the desire of impelling you to write to me when you may not be inclined, than with the wish of proving to you that I do not forget all forgetters of me. Besides, I am half afraid that my letter which went in company with the books, did not reach you—or that you may have forgotten my having sent it. Therefore I will write, not a long letter to trouble you, but a short one to relieve myself—EBB to HSB greeting!–– You will have known that we have been suffering deep anxiety on several accounts. Our dear Papa is better certainly, but far from being well and strong—and I should be easier about him, if he were nearer some medical man in whom he had confidence. He half determined upon consulting Dr Blackall of Exeter; [1] and now has quite determined against doing so. There are other causes of grief. But these are only different tones of the voice of Providence saying “Be still, & know that I am God”; [2] and it is the very deafness and foolishness of our hearts if they cannot recognize a sweet music in them all.
Of you, my dear friend, I should like much to hear. Annie’s letter to Arabel did not mention you—and there is so much relating to your health & your occupations & your power of enjoying them, of which I would enquire. Do you often see Mrs Mathew? And, do you like London? And shall you probably remain in it? Papa talks of leaving Sidmouth early in April; & talks of it decidedly. But his decisions so often wane away into uncertainties, that I scarcely know what to think. You will have heard that Mr Hunter has left the Independent chapel—and his absence from its pulpit is not likely to be ever worthily supplied, altho’ a very spiritual preacher, a Mr Deane, is likely to be the next minister. [3] Mr Hunter preaches almost every Sunday in the neighbourhood, & we have heard him once at the Baptist chapel, Exeter, before a congregation of a thousand persons. He has also been preparing Charles Maling for the Addiscomb college (the East India college—) & much to the satisfaction of his former tutor Mr Jancock, a clergyman of the Church of England, who examined him in order to ascertain his degree of progress.—— Mr Bradney is driven from the church in consequence of preaching the Gospel too faithfully. He is going to take refuge in a Chapel of Ease which will probably be built at the bottom of our garden—instead of, with the dissenters, who were opening their arms very wide, to receive him.– Mr Lucas the new curate, is reported to be inferior to your dear friend Mr Cox. Another still dearer friend, Mr Baker, has been cast off by the Unitarians of Sidmouth, for imputed improprieties of conduct, & for preaching too continually & emphatically, about the “Man [4] Christ Jesus”. His congregation say that they want an “Evangelical Unitarian Minister!” Now, if you can find them such a thing, pray do. But I am afraid that in these degenerate days, all the Centaurs ‘have horses heads.’
I read Greek often—and often think, while I do so, what Greek is Mr Boyd reading? When shall I read to you again? Perhaps never!—— Tell me about the book—how is it selling—& who is admiring it? Have you returned the Bishop of London’s visitation.
Believe me, dear Mr Boyd,
Affectionately yours
E B Barrett.
Kindest love to dear Annie!—— Has she determined yet upon going to Taunton?——
Address, on integral page: H S Boyd Esqr / 6. Circus Road / Regent’s Park / London.
Publication: Weaver, pp. 412–413.
Manuscript: Huntington Library.
1. John Blackall, M.D. (1771–1860), author of Observations on the Nature and Cure of Dropsies (1813), famed for his skill in diagnosis.
2. Psalms, 46:10.
3. The Rev. James Dean, of Egypt Cottage, Sidmouth, was Minister of the Independent Chapel and Treasurer of the Sidmouth branch of the London Missionary Society.
4. Underscored four times. The Unitarians did not subscribe to the doctrine of the Trinity.
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