SD943. Henrietta Moulton-Barrett to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 339–340 (in part).
Braddons Hill Torquay–
September 15th [1838] [1]
What will you say when you see where I am my beloved Sam? it does indeed seem strange to me to feel myself once more in Devonshire, I believe when I wrote last to you, I was in a most terrible state of inquietude & anxiety, about the probability that existed of not obtaining permission to accompany our dearest Ba to these genial shores, but Papa very kindly gave it to me at last & here I am seated in Jane’s pretty drawing room with a most lovely view of woods & sea before me going to tell you all that will be most likely to interest you, & first of all on the subject of our present anxieties, our dear Ba’s health– We have been here nearly three weeks, in that short time, much improvement could hardly be expected, but I do think there is an improvement, you are aware my beloved Sam, how great an invalid she has been lately, it would not be right to conceal the truth from you, but I cannot express to you how thankful I feel that she is out of that horrible London where air & every thing else combined to retard her recovery—& in this lovely & genial climate where with God’s blessing, all will tend to restore her precious health– Indeed we had every reason to fear another winter for her in London after the last, & after Doctor Chamber’s opinion, that her remaining there would be running a risk, Papa at first made some objections to her coming, but happily for us all, it appeared to him in the right light at last, & I am sure he must feel satisfied & glad now that he made the sacrifice in parting with her, it was a great sacrifice to make for him, & when the day of our departure came, I really almost feared that the parting would not have been effected—but after all, she is only here for the winter, & I hope Papa may often come to see her– We came by sea, the we consists of Ba, Bro, George & myself—Bro, & George I fear will be obliged to return soon, at least they talk of doing so, & I am to remain during half the time of Ba’s sojourn in Torquay, I suppose about the end of December or the beginning of Janry I shall return to London, & change places with dearest Arabel who I can assure you I left with a heavy heart, but we could not have both left home together, she bore our coming away most heroically—& now I am much more comfortable about her than I was, for little Mary Hunter is gone to be her companion, as long as she remains sisterless– You know what a favorite she is, & therefore I hope she will make Arabel forget our absence, it was very kind in Mr Hunter giving her up– Ba bore her voyage wonderfully well, she was the only lady on board who did not suffer from sea sickness (poor George & I were in a most terrible condition). We left London very early on a Saturday morng, & arrived here on Monday eveng– We are now dearest Jane’s & Uncle Hedley’s visitors who really seem glad to have us, their kindness is not to be expressed– Ba was only able to get out I think not more than three times during the course of the last year in London, & now here she goes out almost every day, either in a chair or in a sailing boat,– Being out in the air as much as possible is recommended to her—in London she could not bear it, here thank God she can– Jane’s house is some distance from the sea, & at present it is rather a fatigue to her getting down to it, but from the first of October she has taken a small house where she will be in a co-partnership with our Dearest Bummy—who about that time promises us to leave Frocester where she at present is, & come here for the winter, so you see how comfortable we shall be my beloved Sam & how well Ba will be taken care of, with so many whom she loves with her, if we only have the blessing of seeing her getting well soon how happy we shall be! & I have indeed every hope it may be so. Should it be God’s will– There is a very clever & most attentive medical man here who attends her– You know that her complaint is connected with the chest & now my dearest Sam my candor & open[n]ess with regard to her must not make you uneasy, I did not like to keep you in the dark about her, as I should not like you to have done so by me, but do not be unhappy or anxious, for she is most advantageously situated here, she could not be in a better climate, & with it she has every other advantage– She seems delighted with the place, & is in very good spirits which is really a proof of her improvement– She, & I, with Crow, our maid, took a most delightful sail yesterday for more than an hour, & enjoyed it extremely– Bro & George left us last Monday to visit poor old Sidmouth, they were to have returned on Wednesday, but I suppose the Newdicks (with whom they are staying) will not allow them to leave them so soon– They went by sea, took a boat at the extravagant price of £1. I had rather a longing when I saw them go, to have accompanied them, but I could not manage it conveniently– I hope however to see Sidmouth before I leave Devonshire, for I should like to see my old haunts once more—the Newdicks I fear are going to France before the termination of this month– I do not hear that they have let their house yet– I am very sorry to hear from Mrs Newdick that their pecuniary matters are at so low an ebb & when she goes abroad she intends to take a certain number of young ladies, to instruct & she has given me some cards to circulate to this effect– As she feels the necessity of it, I think it is very praiseworthy in her to make such an effort, but entre nous, I wish she had thought of any other expedient to encrease [sic] her riches for I really think such an office is not suited to her– Qu’en pensez vous?– I had a letter yesterday from poor Mrs Maling, she is still at Calais, & seems to be as oppressed with difficulties as ever– Charles I am happy to say is gone to India, but I fear by his misconduct he has added materially to his mother’s anxieties & has left her in a greater state of poverty than ever– He was terribly wild at Addiscombe, & was in great debt before he left it which poor Mrs Maling has been obliged to pay—but he is gone now & I trust by means of a little economy she may soon recover herself, & that she may be able to return to England in the course of next year– Harrieta is at school, & I hear is grown <up extremely> pretty–
This place I hear is to be very gay this winter <as> almost every house is taken– Jane & Uncle Hedley go out a great <deal> <…> are such favorites here with every one! Next week they give a large party 15 to dinner & refreshers in the Eveng—they have three other engagements besides so you see dearest Sam how dreadfully disappointed I am going to be—but say nothing about it in Wimpole Street, for I believe it was the fear of this that had Papa so reluctant to allow me to come– I wish at any rate that Bro may stay here but I fear it will not be permitted– George’s legal studies will oblige him to be in London soon– We left them all quite well– Poor Henry most laudably anxious to get some employment Has threatened asking Papa to allow him to go to Van Diemens Land– He said the asking would only excite either Papa’s passion or compassion– Henry is very amusing, & often makes us laugh by his odd sayings– Poor Stormy still remains without any bright prospects for the future—but when you come dearest Sam I do hope your persuasive acts may effect his removal to Jamaica– It is a horrid place, but Stormy himself is anxious about it, & I think it is the only place likely to suit you– When are you coming dearest Sam? I cannot tell you how anxious I am to have this question answered– I am in great hopes that about the time it will be my turn to return to London, you will be arriving– How very delightful that would be for me!! I trust to have the blessing of hearing that you are ever more quite well, for I have been very anxious & uneasy about you– Pray write to me regularly my beloved Sam– Capt Selby had not arrived more than a week before we left London[—]he dined with us once, he gave me but an indifferent account of you– He brought a most splendid piece of painted velvet from you which he told me you meant for me, but I shall have some compunction in using it, for in the first place it is too splendid for me, & I hardly think you could have intended it for me. the parcel was directed to yourself, my name was certainly upon it, but I do not think it was your handwriting– I can only say dearest Sam that if you really intend it for me, I shall be very much obliged to you for thinking of me, in such a way, but very angry with you for incurring such an expense, for I am sure it must have cost you an emensity [sic]—& all those preserves too you sent, almost all of which I can discover that you purchased– You ought not to be so generous—pray pray do not dearest Sam– Jane is playing in the most exquisite manner, I wish you were here to hear her. I do love her, she is so kind & affectionate—you would be enchanted with her children– She has a little girl called “Ibbet Jane“ 4 years old, who is the most engaging little thing I ever saw—her golden locks hanging down to her waist– Ba is every day, getting more & more in repute among the Literati– I wish you could see all the very favorable reviews that have come out of the Seraphim—two days [ago] she received a most flattering letter from an editor of one of the Annuals, entreating her to contribute to his– She is certainly beginning not only to be known, but appreciated– Daisy is still with dearest Bummy at Frocester, as he has had a happy visit, but it must be drawing near to a close now, as he will be obliged to return to London to recommence his university avocations in a week or two– I hope Bummy may not disappoint us about coming– The house is taken here at the rate of £180 a year the rent is high, but we took it in the best situation on Ba’s account, & this she talks of paying out of her own pocket leaving the rest of the household expenditure to Bummy—the latter we expect will bring dear little Arlette & Cissy & their French governess with her—they are I hear sweet little girls, I am quite anxious to see them– Bro & George are returned from Sidmouth– Poor fellows! They performed the whole of their journey on foot Mr Edward & Herbert A. Breem came with them as far as Exmouth, where they hoped to have found the coach—but it had left an hour before they reached Exmouth– They are however no worse for the fatigue, & they relished their two poached eggs & bacon most particularly on their arrival– This will convince you that they are in a tolerably robust state of health—they have enjoyed themselves very much at Sidmouth & found the Newdicks quite well, & happy to see them– They bring but a bad account of the looks of your pet George– He has had the scarlet fever lately, & it has left him very thin & pale– He & Lizzie play duets together on the Piano—Lizzie is grown, but they do not seem to think she is so pretty as she was– Much in high health—she took George for you—he is certainly like you—the day of their arrival at Sidmouth the last of the promenades was held in Gullocks room– Bro had the honor of dancing with Miss Julia O’Brien who is considered the Belle of Sidmouth– George with Louisa Gutteres who is likewise a very nice girl– At this assembly they saw all their old friends & acquaintances amoung them the fascinating Miss Hemstead & the Miss Jouennes– Poor Mr O’Brien is no better than he was, they say his case is hopeless– They still live at Exeter– Poor Herbert has given up the idea of becoming a sailor as on his last voyage he nearly died– Neither he nor his brother have any employment– On Tuesday Bro & George were invited to a party at the Guttens but as Mrs Newdick had Mrs Kennedy, Mr Whitlock (your great ally) & Mr Theodore Mognage to dine with her, they could not go– On Wednesday the two O’Briens dined at Woodlands– I fear Mrs Newdick is not more popular than she was, they keep to their determination of going to Tours very soon, & of letting their house if they can find a tenant– Bro says the garden is as beautiful as ever—he brought home with them one of their beautiful magnolias to show us– The saw Mr James who arrived only ten days ago– Alas! he gives but an indifferent account of you my beloved Sam, that you not only look but have been very ill—he thinks your coming home is necessary– Now if you love us you will not delay doing so– Surely your health is of much more consequence than the properties—& besides I am sure they will do very well without you– Now pray listen to our entreaties, & come, not soon, but immediately– [2] Bro desires me to give you his best love & to tell you that he strongly recommends your sailing by the very first ship, if you have not set off before this reaches the Island– I, for my part shall be uneasy & unhappy about you until I see you—& I know Papa is as anxious about your coming home as we are– Now, pray my ever dearest Sam come by the very first opportunity– Bro says Mr James looks ill[—]Mrs James en bon [illegible word] Bro & George had a good game of croquet, & a little Archery with the Newdicks[.] They were indeed received most hospitably– I hope I may find some opportunity of going to Sidmouth– old Mr [illegible word] talks of coming here to see Ba but I reather hope he may not– The [illegible word] were very condescending– I think it very likely that Jane & Uncle Hedley may finally settle themselves in Devonshire, they have been looking at two or three places in the neighborhood with the idea of purchasing– The climate agrees so well with uncle Hedley– I wish they would come near London– Papa talks of going to the North, to settle some business there, & then he promises to come here– Harvey has sold 5 copies of Ba’s Seraphim in Sidmouth– Now dearest Sam, I must think of sealing up this sheet, which I hope you may not find too well filled– Pray do not make yourself uneasy about Ba, for she is now really going on well—& I trust it may soon please God to restore her entirely– She desired her affecte love with Bro George |James| Uncle Hedley &c &c[.] My last & most urgent petition to you, is to come immediately– Yes, if you love us, you will do so–
Ever your most attached & most affectionate
Henrietta Barrett
I am just going to have a ride with Bro & Uncle Hedley– The last time I rode was with you from Sidmouth to Beer– God bless you–
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.
2. Underscored three times.
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