SD977. Henrietta Moulton-Barrett to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 344 (in part).
3 Beacon Terrace[,] Torquay
Thursday– [3 January 1839] [1]
My ever dearest Sam–
You may guess our disappointment when the Exeter coach came in yesterday eveng, without dearest Papa, & the only substitute we had for him was a paper directed by him, had it not been for it we should have been expecting him again at nine O’Clock when the last coach was to arrive– You might at least have sent us a letter to say what had prevented him– Poor Ba was terribly disappointed, however I think he must <come> today or we shall hear from you– We conjecture that the rise in the Sugars, which Arabel told us about, has been the cause of the delay—but it really was very tiresome[.] We had his room (the back drawing room[)] in proper order for him with a good fire in it[.] Bummy & I had been out getting some tea cakes from Marchettis, & we were sitting round the fire listening to every sound hoping to hear his voice when Bro came in to tell us the male [sic] had arrived without him– However it will not be the same tonight, it is now nearly 1/2 past 3. & may be he will be here in a hour, so I must hurry on with my letter, for after he comes I shall not be able to spare you any more of my valuable time– Ba is tolerable today, in spite of her disappointment she did not pass a bad night, altho’ it might have been better—but I do not think she looks her best today which I am sorry for as Papa will see her– We are sitting together now tete à tete, as Bummy is just gone up the hill to see Jane– The latter received her visitors yesterday in the drawing room for the first time, but her strength has not come to her lately as quickly as it ought to have done—but I trus<t no>w that she has got down stairs she will soon revive, & get well– Poor little Fanny has a terrible cough, & is under Dr Barry’s care—they have had a very sick house lately, as fast as he cures one patient another is ready for him– I fear that you & Arabel are not half so candid & truthful with us, as I am with you– You have had another attack of the ague dearest Sam, & you never mentioned it to us– We only understood you had a little cold, but I have found out that you have been much worse than you led us to suppose– Well! I shall hear very soon all about you, but I do hope you will in future conceal nothing from us– I believe a little visit here would do you a great deal of good– London never agrees with you, & I dare say you have been exposing yourself shamefully– I hope you slept at Mrs Orme’s the day of your dinner party at Kensington– We have another vacant room in this house for you whenever you choose to come– William went away yesterday & in his room you will find a bed well aired with a beautiful view of the sea from the window– I am really serious– Bummy at present does not seem disposed to tax herself with another William– Between you & I, I hardly think we shall do very well without one—a boy is hired in to clean shoes <& ch>ambers in the M<orng> but more than this is often wanted– Ann waits upon us all double—but say nothing of these household arrangements– I heard from Mrs Newdick this morng– I am very sorry to hear of her illness, & the loss of her Baby– However she seems to be getting over it now– Of course you know that the Biscoes are staying with them—she says, she hopes I shall manage to go & see them & she wished me to do so while the Biscoes are there[.] I hope I may be able to go to Sidmouth before I leave Devonshire[.] I should like to spend a day with the Gutteres & another with the Newdicks– Remember you are to be my chaperone. Is the |Continental| plan totally relinquished? Mrs Newdick authenticates the tidings we heard of poor Anne Walkers death– The Walkers are all staying in Rose Cottage for change of air– Bro had another voyage yesterday, as it fell to his time to regale himself & his companions, he took with him some sandwiches & a hot veal pie & to cool it he put his foot into it in his anxiety to shoot an unfortunate wild duck—however the foot added very much to the flavor of the pie, & it was voted most excellent– Returning from uncle Hedley’s party on New Years Eve Bummy the Miss Fortescues Bro & I on foot thought it was only right to do something out of the common way– We tuned up our voices, & went under old Lady Bolingbrokes windows & sang some glees—but I fear all our trouble was in vain[.] She either would not or could not hear us– Bro rang the bell 3 or 4 times, but nothing would attract her attention—not even the melody of our voices– We were only answered by the angry barkings of her dog– She has sent to ask us all to her house on Saturday[.] Bro accepts her invitation to dinner on that day, we do not– Papa & we three are engaged out <to> dinner tomorrow—if he does not come, I know not what is to be done– Well! he is come—arrived about five o’clock, he got to Exeter this morning, at nine & there he has been waiting all day for a coach to bring him on—he looks quite well but very tired– He gives a tolerable good report of you all—but what he says of your ague dearest Sam I do not like at all—pray take care of yourself– I am very angry with Arabel & all of you for not writing to me– I think for all my letters you might have sent me a few lines some of you– However I will forgive you– Pray thank Mary for me for her beautiful little present– I shall value it very much for her sake—& dear Minny for her cakes which are now on the table before me, they look so good that I long for the breakfast hour tomorrow morning when we may make an incision– Papa thought Ba had better not have any tonight lest it might prevent her from sleeping– I will tell you what he thinks of her when I write again– Bro thanks the donors of his music yourself & dear Henry very gratefully—likewise you & dear Daisy for your letters—I hope we may be able to induce Papa to go to the Gardens to dinner tomorrow– On Monday we are engaged to a quadrille party given by Lady |Ekings| the first I have attended since I have been here—it is rather unlucky it should be so—& the public ball is on the 18th I am afraid in spite of my white satin shoes & Ba’s beautiful new dress I shall not be able to attend it– Mais nous verrons—tell George the Miss Palks will be there as Sir Lawrence is <one> of the Stewards, but pray say nothing of it– I have no more gaieties to tell you of– Torquay is considered very dull this winter—& as for a ball there will be plenty of ladies to dance but a great scarcity of gentlemen—when will you arr<ive to> add to the number?– I was afraid none of you would co<me wi>th Papa– But dearest Arabel we shall very soon send for you– Ba desires me to say how very much she thanks dearest Arabel Mary & Minny for their letters[.] I am not angry with any of you for not writing to me for I now see that you had no time to do so– You ought to have had a longer notice– To dearest Stormie for the valuable book Ba desires me to tell him how pleased how grateful, how angry she is with him for buying it for her– It was very kind of him, & I think he could not have given her a more acceptable present– She says she will say more on the subject herself– Pray dearest Sam let me hear how you are– Now tell us exactly– God bless you all[.] Goodnight–
Ever yours always
Henrietta
I have forgotten to say how delighted Ba is with dear Mary[’s] pretty little book– I dare say she will see it well filled some day, as Mary has given her so many good subjects to write upon[.]
[Continued in the hand of Robin Hedley]
Miss H Barrett is about to be married to Lord Mathinsons son. Amen. She is thought a great beauty according
[Continued by Henrietta]
Naughty Robin has been writing some nonsense here. He is always at some mischief
Address, on integral page: S.M. Barrett Esqr / 50. Wimpole Street / London.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
1. This letter is postmarked 4 January 1839, a Friday.
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