741. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 254–255.
[London]
March 9. 1840–
My beloved Ba
As I am sending off a note to dear Bell, I must just put one line in the envelope for you, to tell you the old tale, how you live in my affections, & the many anxieties I suffer on your account, in Consequence of the long continuance of this inexorable wind sparing neither man or beast– But I trust that He Who holdeth the wind in his hand, will moderate it & temper it to you the shorn lamb– [1]
We have heard nothing of the learned gentleman [2] since he left but I suppose that he is well, & looking on the engagements of others in the very opposite spirit of the tenth commandment– [3]
What a poor miserable attempt of an apology for Southey has Landor made in the Examiner of Saturday & to my mind as poor or nearly so a mention of the Queen’s marriage. [4]
I fear that I have been very remiss in not having returned Arabel my best thanks for her work, which is intended to grace my feet, pray give them for me with my warmest affections–
Were you not amused with Sette’s immense assurance in going up with the Oxford Address, not knowing an individual in the Train; [5] it beats every thing I ever heard, but it seems to sit very long upon him, & to be thought nothing out of the common way– He is however a dear good kind fellow, both my right & left hand. Whilst you are my head–
Dearest Ba
Yrs most affectly–
E M Barrett
Address, on integral page: For my Ba.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
1. “Maria,” in Laurence Sterne’s A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy (1768), II, 175–176.
2. i.e., George Moulton-Barrett.
3. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house,” etc.
4. The Examiner of 8 March (no. 1675, p. 147) printed an ode by Landor in defence of Southey. A note explained that the ode was “Suggested by verses in the Globe of Thursday the 27th ult., grossly reproaching the Laureate for his silence on the occasion of the Royal Marriage.”
5. The Duke of Wellington, as Chancellor of the University of Oxford, together with a deputation of officials and “several hundred members of the University,” had presented to the Queen on 3 March an “address of cordial congratulations” on the occasion of her marriage (The Times, 4 March 1840). The Times of 2 March had given details of the forthcoming ceremony, together with the time and place of assembly, and Sette (with no association with the University) had borrowed his brother’s dress coat and insinuated himself into the delegation (see letter 748).
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