86. Henrietta Moulton-Barrett to EBB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 76.

[Hope End]

[6 March 1819] [1]

My dearest Ba

I hope we may all succeed in pleasing you on your birthday; we shall all try to do so, as we have tried to make you happy on all your birthdays but I cannot expect that my little letter can give you as much pleasure, as your beautiful verses gave me and wish I could write verses for your sake, but I love you as dearly and wish you as happy as if I could tell you so in verse and hope you will have a great deal of fun with

my dearest sisters affecte

Doctor Harry

Address, on integral page: To / The dearest Ba / On her birthday.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Berg Collection.

1. EBB’s birthday was 6 March. The year 1819 is assumed because on Henrietta’s birthday in that year, just two days earlier, EBB had addressed her as “Rigt Revd Dr Harry Parry Barrett” (letter 82).

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