SD926. Henrietta Moulton-Barrett to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 337–338 (in part).
50. Wimpole Street
Augst 1st 1837 [sic, for 1838] [1]
My beloved Sam
I had hoped not to have had an opportunity of writing to you again before I saw you—but it has been ordained otherwise, but I fervently trust that the delay of so much happiness will only be for a month or two, the disappointment of not seeing you now was too great a one to be expressed, you can measure ours by your own– Nevertheless we will not complain if we only have the blessing of hearing that you have again recovered your precious health, & that you are indeed coming soon! We have been uneasy about you & indeed are still, you do not say how you are in your letter to me from New York—& I think if you had been well, you would have said so, & not being so, you would not mention the subject– Dearest Sam, your going back to Jamaica proves to me that you are much more careful of Papa’s interests than you are of your own health—or rather that you do not remember that in preserving the latter, you do the former—but I must tell you that Papa was pleased with your thoughtfulness in returning at this critical time, & we should all have commended your prudence, had it been otherwise with you– I must acknowledge that this disappointment has very much robbed me of the pleasure I should & ought have felt on this day when the poor Negroes are rejoicing in their freedom, indeed it is a glorious day. I only hope it may prove so to us all—but whatever may be the result, it must be acknowledged & felt by all enlightened people that it is as it ought to be[.] I am very uneasy to think that you are alone, while there remains a chance of any disturbance in the country, indeed I tremble to think of it, & often do I wish that you had Stormy with you (whose muscular powers I dare say surpass yours) to protect you—but I trust to your popularity, more than in your strength, so that I shall expect to have peaceable accounts of you– For our sakes my own dearest Sam I beseech you to take [care] of yourself—remember how dear you are to us, & do not commit any imprudences—the following receipt Papa has just sent to me desiring me to enclose it to you—“½ of hot Green Tea without sugar or milk, & a half of brandy, to be taken when going to bed, which must be taken when the ague is coming on–” They say that it will may [sic, for make] you tipsy, as I can well believe, but that is no consequence as they say also, that it is a certain cure– It was given to Papa by Mr Newdick who brought it with him from China– You will be surprised to hear that our kind friends the Newdicks are now in Town—they came for a week, & will remain I suppose a few days longer, they dined with us a day or two ago—they are both looking remarkably well. I had not written this when the door opened & in Mr Newdick walked to ask us to go with them tomorrow eveng to the Surrey Zoologicals, I cannot manage it, but they will come here on Saturday evening to go with us to see the wax works in Baker Street– He desired me to remember them both to you– Mrs N. meant to write to you but she has not—the eveng they staid with us we amused ourselves in opening a box of theirs to you which has been waiting here for you to open– It had been sent last year to their agent Col. Robinson & by some mistake it had not been forwarded to you—the contents was a cheese which is rather the worse for being kept so close a prisoner, it is deposited in the yard to air, but I am afraid it will not recover itself—& a cake, which has rather caught this infection from its neighbour the cheese—but Minny has scraped it, & she will adorn in in white for your reception, the Newdicks are certainly going to leave Sidmouth this month, & are going with their family to Tours, where they hope you will visit them when you come to England but I tell Mr Newdick that they must come here to see you– They go abroad I suspect to economise. I fear their means are very small—they have not let their house,—but they have great hopes of doing so– They talk of being absent from England 7 years—I have scribbled all this without saying anything to you of our dearest Ba, who I am grieved to say still remains on the Invalid list—but my beloved Sam don’t let me make you uneasy about her– I do not think it right to conceal altogether her illness from you, you know that she has always been delicate, & the unhappy cold she caught last winter has not left her chest—but every means has been taken, & is taking, & we trust with the blessing of <Him> she will soon be restored– Dr Chambers who attends her has ordered her to Torquay for the winter. Papa has given his consent to her going & Dr Chambers says he has every hope that she will return from thence quite well– She goes to the Hedleys for a week or two (they have a house there), & very soon our dearest Bummy who is now returned to Frocester goes to Torquay & she & Ba are thinking of taking a cottage between them for the winter—so she will be as happy & as well taken care of as if she were at home– Bro goes down with her & will return & we are very anxious that Papa may allow Arabel & me to take it by turns to be with her– I think he cannot refuse– Our plan is that one of us should be with her until Christmas & then that the other should go– We are in great suspence about it– Not only on our own accounts, but we have the vanity to suppose that she would not be comfortable without one of us to nurse her– She likes the idea of going much—she goes by sea– Her new Poem “The Seraphim“ is come out & has been most favorably received in the literary world. Almost all the Reviews have taken notice of it, & in the most flattering way– As you are coming home so soon, there will be no use in sending it to you, but I know you will be enchanted with it. Her name is attached to it—& in one of the Reviews she is mentioned as the “fair Elizabeth“– Indeed we have every reason to be proud of this beloved Sister of ours– May God in His mercy soon restore her health to us—don’t my beloved Sam be uneasy about her. You shall hear constantly of her, & we will tell you faithfully[.] It was indeed a great happiness to have our dearest Bummy with us. She lengthened out her visit to us longer than she intended, hoping to see you before she went– She loves us all, as dearly as ever– Poor little Arlette & Cissy Butler are with her– they will of course all go to Torquay– She carried away Daisy with her, who was too happy of the opportunity to get into the country–he was to be a fortnight away but it [is] more than a fortnight now, & he has not returned– Myrtle too went for the benefit of the country air– All the boys are quite well, including Papa– Henry complains much of being brought home, & having nothing to do—he is considered very handsome– I think it is very likely that you will be able to persuade Papa to let Stormy go to Jamaica—he is very anxious about it—when you come to England– Dear Annie is gone with the Tulks to the Cumberland lakes where they remain until November much to Bro’s discontent– She refused to go until she heard that you were not coming yet to England—the Gordons follow them if they can do so without much expense about the end of this month– We continue to like our new home extremely, the drawing rooms are even not yet finished & James Mathews is still working in the house– I am sure you will be pleased with it– Dearest Sam a thousand thanks for your most magnificent present—of preserves– I am sure they must have been an immense expense to you, as I observe they are not home made—that you have bought them all– Never do so again my dearest Sam. Papa gave a box of them to the Hedleys when they were in London I know & gave dearest Bummy what you desired & Treppy, & what you desired are going to the Newdicks– We told them you had sent them, they expressed themselves very gratefully to you for them—the remainder we shall keep for our own consumption & shall always think of you while devouring them– Treppy is quite well—but unhappily not so her temper– She has not even yet recovered Bummy’s being here so long– What a misfortune her temper is to her!– She says that when Ba goes to Torquay she will never come here—but I think her better heart will not permit her to keep this resolution– Mrs and Miss Cliffe have been spending some time with Mr & Mrs Hayes who live in a very pretty cottage two miles from London– Mrs & Miss Cliffe slept here last night, they both desire their very kindest regards to you—the former is as fat & good as ever—this eveng I am going with them to attend an Archery meeting given in the Regents Park to Mr & Mrs Hayes, in honor of their wedding day, which is today—& I return with the Cliffes to sleep at their cottage– Mrs Hayes is much improved since her marriage—the Newdicks are going to call upon them before they leave Town– I am pleased to think that you were able to enjoy yourself in America– Your feat by the Rail way we think nothing of—30 miles an hour is very slow travelling in England—we shall be able to fly very soon– When is Mr James coming home his family ha<ve> been expecting him long– Minny well, but very lame–
Bro desires me to say he would have written to you had I not. Will you forgive me for so preventing him? You will hear from him by next packet. Write constantly my own dearest Sam Always let Papa know how the crops are going on—but above all tell us correctly & particularly how you are– Don’t over exert yourself—I am afraid of you, but I trust in your affection for us all, you will be careful of yourself—& manage to come away from that horrid place as quickly as you can—but this I need hardly tell you to do– I have been writing this & talking to Mrs Cliffe at the same time so pray forgive all errors of the press– Ba & all unite in most affectionate love to very dearest Sam
Ever his attached
Henrietta Barrett.
Address, on integral page: S. M. Barrett Esqr / Cinnamon Hill / Little River / St James’ / Jamaica.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
1. Year provided by postmark.
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