SD993. Henrietta Moulton-Barrett to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 348–349 (in part).
Torquay
Saturday– [30-31 March 1839]
My ever dearest Sam
Here I am beginning to answer your kind letter which Arabel says you wrote to me quite unintentionally, I hope the kindness of it was not unintentional too—if I thought it was so I should not intentionally sit down to reply to it but I believe Arabel has libelled you– Her letter yesterday eveng was received with many acclamations of contentment—it has been my private opinion, that as Thursday has passed without hearing from her, that she was going to cheat us again, & so she would have done according to her own confessions, had it not been for you– I am glad you exerted your authority in so good a cause, & she would have been glad that she had submitted, had she been able to forsee the good it was to do to my dearest Ba, for it could not have arrived at a more opportune time, when she had undergone all the fatigue of being brought downstairs, carried up again, undressed & put to bed, she was exhausted, as we had every reason to suppose she would be, I tried to enliven her, but even my eloquence failed, when dearest Arabel’s letter came to brighten her eyes, & cheer her heart—it quite rallied her again– After this, I need not thank her for it she will thank herself that it was written– But to return to Ba—she is in no way worse for her expedition yesterday—altho it caused her so much fatigue at the time– She was down about two hours, Dr Barry is going to give her a holiday today, & tomorrow she comes down again. I am afraid she likes her own room much better than this—but as she gains strength I dare say she will like ours better– We should be thankful dearest Sam, to think that she had been downstairs, & that it has done her no harm– May God in His Mercy continue to answer our prayers, & restore her precious health to us—what greater blessing for this world can we ask for?!—we shall be a little anxious for Sundays post, on account of the smoke in the drawing room– I wish it may all end in smoke, but Arabel’s visions of flames frightened us a little– I trust it may at any rate be satisfactorily discovered what has been the cause of it– I cannot imagine how Mr Chichester’s chimney could have any thing to do with the floor of our drawing room—however we shall not alarm ourselves about it– I hope you had a pleasant dinner party at Mr Selby’s but you ought to have been at home to have amused Mr Newdick instead of his taking up Arabel’s attention when she was so much better engaged in writing to us– How much longer does he remain in London? I should like to know if there is any chance of his getting any thing to do—dearest Sep was quite right to give such a flattering account of Bro’s singing– I can assure you it is in great request here, & not his singing only—I think he is liked by all the young ladies, as well as old ones—& is equally attentive to all—so that I hope he will not create any jealousy amongst them—singing with some, & riding with others– I wish you were here to help him in his arduous undertakings, for I can assure you there are so few gentlemen here that he requires some assistance– He goes on studying German, & hopes in time, to equal Harry himself, in the attainment of the language—what has the latter resolved upon, about his Friend & Companion Resolute? Can he make up his mind & part with him or not? I know it will cost him a hard struggle if he does– We have had two days of almost incessant rain, it has been so warm with it, that I <ex>pect to see our trees in their summer clothing in a very short time, & the banks covered with spring flowers which they say are here in great profusion. I hope you may be here to look at them, before they are gone dearest Sam– I often, very often, think of you, & all so very dear to us– When the weather begins to be a little settled, I mean to try to do a little more in the drawing way than I have done– I wish to redeem my character, & do some sketches to show Arabel– How does her oil painting go on?– Tell Papa that Bummy wrote to enquire after the health of Lady Londonderry the other day—the answer was that she was better– Ba received a long letter from Miss Mitford this morning—she says that Arabel’s note “charmed her”—she hopes that “those dear boys seeds may flourish” not the boys– Mrs Orme is with you now going to dine & sleep in Wimpole St. so says Arabel– I daresay you will have plenty of talking Company, & a goose for dinner which I know Papa often indulges her with– I do not wish for the latter, but I should like to be with you for the former– Treppy too, I can fancy among you—pray do not get into any more scrapes with her if you can help it– I know it is difficult sometimes to keep out of them– Give her my kind love– Have Seppy & Ockyta begun their studies again with Mr Patch, or does he still remain too great an Invalid– I want to know too particularly about Seppy’s cough– I trust he has left off that bad practice of beginning the duties of the day by Coughing– Pray let us hear of it– Mr & Mrs Vivian have taken possession of their new house– I am ashamed to say that I have not been to see them in it yet, altho they have called here very often lately– I suppose Eliza |Bacon| will be coming– I hope dearest Papa did not think me very extravagant in my demands by asking for a new gown– I was half sorry after my letter was gone that I had mentioned it, lest he should– The letter re-directed by Mrs Newdick came for him yesterday, but as he could not receive it tomorrow, I did not send it by this morning’s post– You will receive no letter from me on Wednesday morng– Don’t get into a passion but wait for my reasons—which cannot fail to restore to you your accustomed equanimity of temper– They are these, on the afternoon of that day a parcel will arrive from Ba containing a turkey for you all & a goose for Treppy– Court will arrive in London on that day, & will be the bearer of it– I think it is likely Ba will write a line—or two in it, therefore for that day I may spare you some of my scribblings the stupidity of which I am sure you must be so tired of!!– It will be Arabel’s turn next, to undergo the pennance of hearing from me—tell her so with my affecte love–
Sunday Morng. I am happy to be able to add dearest Sam that Ba slept better last night—“more sleep” she says– She desires me to give her love & to tell you that you are to expect the turkey, & Treppy the goose on Wednesday (which I have already done) i.e. if in this wise place Torquay, a goose can be found—but I can assure the race is nearly extinct here– She also says that she is in the midst of the composition of sundry Notes– I think I shall let Dr Barry into this secret today—but I must go on with my toilette or I shall be too late for prayers where I never fail to think of you all–
Dearest Sam’s
Very attached Henrietta
Love to dear Minny–
Address, on integral page: S. M. Barrett Esqr / 50. Wimpole Street / London.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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