SD956. Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother) to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 341 (in part).
Wimpole St.
Nov. 21st ’38
My dearest Henrietta Controul your temper within proper bounds & do not bring charges against me of negligence in not writing till you know the cause: The truth is I have been so much engaged in the City & elsewhere that I have not had one idle moment to bestow on you, though I may occa<s>ionally have thought of you & your party. I <ar>rived at Sidmouth last Monday week in a state of safety thanks to Newdick who |t<oo>k| his carriage over to Exeter for me & <a>fter staying there till Wednesday Evg. & seeing a<ll> that was to be seen, I started for this place, All your Sidmouth friends desired numerous remembrances, these I ought to deliver <in>dividually but as George stays I do so collectively– When I reached this [place] I found this party so much altered in every respect, that I could not without close examination distinguish one from the other & even now I can hardly believe they are the same party I left, four years since; They are all much improved, but George & Harry Especially, the latter is a complete original, the former is more improved than I could have supp<o>sed possible in so short a time. I am not <a>tall surprized at the impression produc<ed> on Miss Blackwoods mind by George’s External appearance, & I can bea<r> witness to the improvement of his mental <f>acilities; all the others are more or less im<p>roved & were I gifted with the Pen of a ready writer, might I think outwit George & Robins on so interesting a subject, You must however remain satisfied till we meet, by my assuring you that I consider Sarah grown—shorter—& Minny—stouter—but both & all looking the perfection of health. The house I am as well pleased with as the inhabitants, but am in some measure disappointed at the width of the Street; to this however I am reconciled, for the house is delightful in every respect, & my room as warm as I could wish it when in bed, but as cold as my bitterest enemy could desire when out: I like the first drawing room the best & is I think very handsome, all the others are excellent especially the Bed Rooms, but the Library is smaller than I expected; I will be more explan<a>tory when we meet for time just now will <no>t allow, as I am about to go into the city[.] My best love to all your party, I am in <ho>pes from your account that dear Ba is gradual[l]y improving—I trust she has better r<ea>son to be Satisfied with Dr Barry; My best love to her, Jane & party & believe me my dea<re>st Henrietta
Yr. Affectionate
S M Barrett
P.S. Arabel concludes–
Address, on integral page: Miss H. Barrett / 3– Beacon Terrace / Torquay / Devon.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
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