54. Arabella Moulton-Barrett & Mary Robinson [1] to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 46–47.
| [Both letters in the hand of Mary Robinson] | [Ramsgate] |
[20 November 1817] [2]
My dearest Ba I thank you for your Propper Letter I often read it and think of you I am delighted to hear you have got so many nice chickens I Should have Liked to have seen your play very much I hope dearest Ba you will write me another Letter as I like to read them so much I wish you were here to bathe With me The sea is so very Pretty You would Like It very much Give my best Love to Dear Papa and Mama and All Bros & Sist
Your affett A Barrett.
My Dear Miss Barrett I know you will be very happy to receive this Letter from D<ea>r baby I am happy to Say She is ve<ry fin>e and would like very muc<h to be goin>g with you She i<s s>o merry and Lo<ok>s So well you would be delighted to see her. Tell your Dear Mamma her face is much better her Arm Improves but very Slowly. It is much Less but Still is Stiff in the Joint She has not the Least Pain in it and uses It very well but cannot touch her Shoulder with it, her health is very good She eats and Sleeps Well Mr Snowden offten sees her And Says She improves very much Ask your Mama If She would Like for Mr Snowden to write to her his Opinion.
My Dearest Ba I am happy to hear you Are so Merry and Good I should have been delighted to have seen you perform In the Play. I understand your Little Georg<e> Is grown quite A Beauty And Sweet Little Storm How I should Like to see them We have Beautiful Weather here– Ramsgate Looked very Gloomy yesterday on Account of the Princess Charlottes Funnerl [sic] All the Shops and houses Shut Upp and every body in deep Mourning the Flags hoisted half mast high and the Bells Tould all the day– I hope my Dear We will see you soon If We dont Pray dont forget your ever
Attached Minny
Address, on integral page: Miss Barrett / By favor of Major Fance. [3]
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
1. Mary Robinson (“Minny”) had joined the household as nurse to Arabella. She later became housekeeper at Hope End, a position she maintained in all subsequent Moulton-Barrett residences. She died in the early 1860’s at Arabella’s London home, after a long illness.
2. Dated by the reference to Princess Charlotte’s funeral, which took place at Windsor on 19 November 1817, the Princess having died in childbirth on 6 November. She was Heiress Presumptive to the throne, hence the following lines from an incomplete poem by EBB (Reconstruction, D670): “Oh Charlotte hope of Britains sea girt isle / And is the lovly spirit, robed in bliss / For ever ever winged away its flight?”
3. The Fances were Hope End neighbours.
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