SD971. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 343 (in part).
[London]
[ca. 1839] [1]
My dear Daddles
The Bearer will I doubt not be considered by you all as ample an apology for neglect of Letters on my part– I was almost disposed to keep him here altogether, as he plagues & distresses me much from his total indifference towards everything that is likely to make him passable, he appears to possess neither emulation or application– Try amongst you what you can, spare him not Latin, Greek, French & writing, work him with from morng to night; if he will do nothing to improve himself, it is the last time he shall come home for a very long time indeed for I will send him abroad somewhere– I will not spend my money, depriving the other Children of advantages for him to neglect or will I plague myself about him any longer–
With respect to the Bow-Meeting I hardly Know what advice to give– You know my most serious objections to the exhibition made on these occasions by the female archers, and I am in a difficulty in my own mind to determine how far the presence of my Daughters may be thought to countenance them; but do as you all think proper & do whatever you may I shall not be angry–
Tell Bro I hope you will not encourage too great a familiarity with those Charter House Boys as neither your account of Mr Stuart or Dominic’s of Mr Bag give me a very high opinion of their taste or sense– God bless you all my own dearest loves
EMB–
Address, on integral page: Miss H. Barrett.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
1. Conjectural dating based on Edward Moulton-Barrett’s reference to “the Bow-Meeting,” a term also used in SD1021, dated 12 August 1839. Archery is also mentioned in SD926 (1 August 1838) and in SD943 (15 September [1838]).
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