SD1042. Henrietta Moulton-Barrett to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 357–358 (in part).
Torquay–
Saturday– Sepr 14th [1839] [1]
My beloved Sam–
As Ba answers Stormie’s letter today, I have been hesitating whether I ought to write to you, but as duty & inclination do not always go together I shall cast away all my economical qualms of conscience, & make you pay the enormous sum of 2/2 for this sheet– You are not always together, so that you may be glad of it, even at such a sacrifice! Oh! for the first of Janry when we are to be blessed with the penny postage, I may then write to you without any of these disagreeable sensations of appearing something in the character of a pick pocket– Our dearest Ba (for she must be first & foremost in all our thoughts) continues about the same, as when you last heard from me, certainly not worse, if not better, the arrival of our dear Arabel has appeared to instil new life into her, & she looks, & is quite happpy, & this I hope may be the means of advancing her recovery—the cough I do think is better, & so has the expectoration been until these last few days, when it has been rather encreased [sic] owing it may be to the non-attendance of Dr Barry, he has been so ill, with nervous fever, that he has been confined to his bed for some days, but he is better again I am happy to say, & I trust both for his own sake & (last tho’ not least) that of our beloved Ba he may soon again be able to renew his visits—for altho’ he has been, & still is sometimes so unjustifiably abused, she feels his absence very much—there cannot be a more attentive medical man than he is, & I think we have every reason to be satisfied with his ablilties in our dear Ba’s case—he has taken a great interest in her which is also very much in his favor—as he has not received as yet a farthing for his attendance, she wrote to him the other day requesting he would let her know “the pecuniary part of her obligations to him” he sent in his account £125—a moderate charge I think for so long a time, then she has the druggists bill to defray £50, so that with this expensive house to boot, I fear that her finances will hardly bear it, it is almost settled that we are to move from this one to No 1—on the same Terrace, it is somewhat cheaper than this, & the bedrooms more in number, it is not in my opinion so cheerful looking as this, but I will tell you presently, whether we have it or not—they reckon that Ba will be saved £17 by going to it—they are talking so much about it now, whether it shall be taken or not, that I really can hardly write– Bummy seems uncertain whether she will remain the winter with us– She talks of the necessity of her returning to Frocester, now really I cannot make out what tie she has there—however she will stay I think at any rate a part of the winter, & she very kindly says she would not leave Ba, were she not so well– If she remains I only hope she will remain happily—but say nothing of her movements when you write– As Georgie talks of going away from here, I wrote to Papa the other day to propose returning to London with him as Arabel is now here to take my place near our dearest Ba, & as Papa was without one of us, I thought it right to do so– I waited with some anxiety for his answer, it came at last, to say that George was not to go home as soon as he intended as it would disarrange all his plans, & that I was not to go until he sent for me. I was very glad of this respite for you know (in spite of the pleasure of going home) how I shall lament leaving my dearest Ba, but this time is not come yet altho’ I expect it to do so before the winter– As to Georgie, he is very indignent [sic], that his plans should be so disarranged, he is anxious to get back to his law books, altho’ he flatteringly assures us he will be sorry to leave us—but what Papa’s can be, we are a little curious to know, he does not surely mean to bring them all down here for the winter, this cannot be, After Papa’s letter Georgie wrote to him by return of post to expostulate with him, on the necessity of his return to London, & he has not yet received a reply– Ba was so enchanted to receive dearest Stormie’s letter from Madeira, he could not have given her a much greater pleasure, & he wrote in such good spirits as if he were pleased with his prospects—that both yours & his dearest Sam may have a happy realisation is our earnest prayer– Arabel hears that a letter written at the same time as Stormie’s is in Wimpole St. for her, from you[—]Papa promised to send it down with some she addressed for us from London—he might have sent it before I think, but these unprosperous days make us all so dreadfully economical! Papa seems to be in terrible spirits about Jamaica affairs—he seems to think that starvation awaits us—do write him a good cheering letter on the subject—for I am sure he fancies that they are much worse than they really are– I must tell you dearest Sam, in confidence that he was not pleased with you for drawing upon him in Madeira for money, without writing to him to apprise him of your intention—it would have been so much better had you thought of doing so—don’t be angry with me for saying so, but you are apt sometimes to forget how particular Papa is– We ought to remember his little peculiarities– He would do any thing & every thing for us, but we must give way to him in some things—do be careful my beloved Sam, what you do, & how you write, it would be grievous Indeed were there to be any other disagreement!– Arabel is delighted with the beauties of Torquay, she had a donkey expedition to Babbicombe the other day, & brought back with her some very pretty sketches– She has done a very pretty oil colored sketch of the bathing cove– Bro’s talents as an artist improve daily—he has made a quantity of beautiful water colored drawings– Why do you not try what you can do in this way, it would be such an amusement for you in your leisure hours– I shall be anxiously expecting your promised letter to me, I hope it may not be long in making its appearance– You seemed both of you to have enjoyed your visit to Madeira—pray, pray be careful of yourselves, & do not expose yourselves either to heat or fatigue– Our belle cousiné Henrietta Dashwood is very much liked here, & what we have seen of her we could not do otherwise than like, she rides about with her husband, & looks perfectly happy—they all come to drink tea with us tomorrow eveng Lady Dashwood included– The latter is so very affectionate whenever I meet her, that it is quite overpowering, call me “my darling”—you must remember her if you have ever seen her– The Fortescues (my favorites in Torquay) also come to meet them, & Mrs Brydges Wyllyams– Bro & George & I were at a very agreeable soirée at her house last eveng– Our Gaieties frighten Arabel– I need not tell you that I can never get her to attend any of them with me—she is a constant attendant at the Independant [sic] chapel here, & seems to like the minister Mr Orange—& I am sorry to say she is as great a dissenter as ever– She is very good & very dear altho’ she be one– She desires me to give you her most affecte love—as long as we are Christians it does not much matter what we are—they laugh at me terribly for my Church Advocacy– As October approaches, Bro’s spirits rise—you know perhaps, what happiness is likely to befall him then—that the Gardens are coming back then, & that monti will be here to ride with him– I hope you look forward with satisfaction to her being your sister—for I really think it is very likely to be—if poor Bro only had a sufficiency to maintain a wife!—but that, he has not at present– He will miss Uncle Hedleys horses in October more than ever—dearest Jane has been a great invalid since she has been at “Merry Oak,” but she is better now[–] Uncle Hedley & children are quite well & continue pleased with the place—they say nothing yet of their promised visit here—their house here has not yet found an occupant–
Uncle Richard is still here, & says nothing of going—he seems to be quite happy & comfortable with his children– It seems decided now that we go to No 1—& I hope it will be all for the best, the situation of Ba’s bedroom is delightful, opening into the drawing room—so that she will have no cold passages to pass during the winter time—if it only agrees with her, I am sure I shall like it—the above was written yesterday my dearest Sam & by this days Post Bummy had a letter from Jane, she gives a better report of herself– Uncle Hedley takes Robin to Eaton [sic] tomorrow, & on their way they stay a day in London & have bespoken beds in Wimpole St– She also says that she has had a letter from Fanny & Uncle James left Ballin Temple the day before she wrote– As he promised he would come here on his way from Ireland, I should not be surprised to see him any hour, or maybe he will cut us altogether—there is no trusting him– Papa wrote Ba a nice long letter yesterday, he says he will write to George in a few days about his return, He (G) most unflatteringly to us, is being indignant in being thus kept here– This is Sunday night I hope I am not committing a great sin in thus finishing my scribble to you, my conscience does not tell me that I am, Arabel & Georgie are at the Independent Chapel[.] Such a pouring night, the rest of our party Bro Bummy Uncle Richard Arlette & Cissy are sitting round our table reading some befitting studies for the day, others not so—& what are our dearest, very dear Sam & Stormie doing? Would that I could see them now! but I can think of them & pray God to bless them abundantly– May He do so both temporally & spiritually– Ba’s letter is gone to Stormie[.] I kept this to you that you might have the latest intelligence[.] Our dearest Ba is nicely & sends you with all others her best affections– Write to me my beloved Sam & ever love your fondly attached
Henrietta
Papa says nothing yet about coming– Ba had a letter from Mary Minto the other day, she seems quite reconciled to Brighton– I know you were a great admirer of hers therefore I tell you this– God bless you–
Address, on integral page: S. M. Barrett Esqr / Cinnamon Hill / Little River / St James’ / Jamaica / Per packet / Sepr 15th.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
1. Year provided by postmark.
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