SD1090. Henrietta Moulton-Barrett to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 362–363 (in part).
Torquay
Decr 14th 1839
It happened by the merest chance my beloved Sam, as we were all sitting at work (the we, consisting of Bummy Arabel Arlette & Cissy) that it came into my head to enquire the day of the month, time goes so quickly that I can hardly believe that the packet day is tomorrow, however they tell me it is even so, therefore altho’ Bummy is reading aloud & I shall <ru>n great chance of edifying you with excursions in Greece instead of Torquay yet I would rather do this than not write to you atall after the kind & most acceptable letter I received from you by the last—& after the rebuke you give me for not writing to you regularly– I can only say now dearest Sam, that I am very sorry you should have been this disappointed, but it does appear to me that you could not have received all our letters, as we have sent either you or Stormie one by almost every packet[.] However as now that postage is not so [illegible word], you shall hear more regularly, for I know you will be glad to pay a shilling a fortnight to hear of our beloved Ba—& particularly as it appears that you are beginning to prosper so well in the world—& before I say any thing less interesting to you, I must tell you that she continues about the same as when I last wrote to you—she has not been made worse by the badness of the weather, which we should be thankful for, as it always affects her so much—as long as it lasts we must not expect much improvement but if we can only pass the coldest part of the winter pretty well, we shall hope in the Mercy of God for better things as the Spring advances– She is carried to her sofa for a short time every day, but her Coming into the drawing room has not been thought of yet—nor will it be I suppose for the next month at least, you must not think dearest Sam that she has not the power to do so, but Dr Scully is so very prudent & cautious in all his proceedings with her, that he will not allow her to exert herself in any way, or to run any risks—it is quite right it shd be so– He comes to see her every day not only medically it appears, but to chat, he seldom leaves her under an hour & tells her all the news & the scandal of the neighbourhood, but not ill naturally– She has not recovered her voice but that I trust will come in time, & I really think her cough is better than it was, she is not any thinner, altho’ perhaps not fatter, & I hope she is a little stronger than she was about a month ago– The expectoration remains about the same, not very bad dearest Sam, & her spirits are cheerful, there are many who have health, & without her deprivations who are not half so happy as she—it is her contentedness & peace of mind that makes her so—& it is a blessing both to herself & all around her– She is indeed dear to us! Oh! May it please God to give us back our happiness in the restoration of her precious health!– Papa left us not a week ago, he promised Ba to come back as quickly as possible, he said something about a fortnight, but I do not expect him so soon as that—he must have quite exhausted poor Capt. Selby’s patience[.] I suppose Papa has occasioned him to be a month after his time—but he sails tomorrow– I trust these boisterous winds we have had this last day or two may cease & blow for him– Since Papa’s return home, he has had a very large dinner party, he says, “half the city,” all his commercial friends– I suppose Capt. Selby was amongst them—sugar & ship were discussed, I am not sorry not to have been there, but Seppy gives such an account of what it was to be, that if it did not beat George’s fëte in fashion, I think it must have done so in splendour– I hope this beginning in the East end, may extend itself to the West, & that by the time I return home, there may be some chance of our having a little society, & pleasant dinner parties—do you think this will ever be again?– Papa did not tell us of his intention to leave us, till about 10 o’clock the night before he went, so that we had not time to send any thing by him, not even your pocket book which I meant Capt. Selby to take, however he will arrive so late in Janry that I dare say you will have procured one– Arabel was preparing something too for you, that you desired her to make, which was not quite finished, & Bro only had time to make this resolution (a great exertion for him) to write to you by Capt. Selby, but on account of the suddeness of Papa’s departure could not perform it– So you must forgive us all dearest Sam, as we all had such very good intentions– Sep says, “I wish Pa<pa wou>ld not take us quite so much by surprise, not that the house was not ready <to re>ceive him in, but such sudden meetings shake your nerves–[”] From Minny’s account of them, they have been all very peaceable & well behaved during his absence– I often felt a little uneasy, that being left so much to themselves they might commit some terrible outrage– Poor Henry wrote to Papa when he was here, a foolscap sheet quite full, urging him most strenuously to allow him to go into the army, he said all he cd on the subject, told him that he felt himself incompetent to be an engineer– However all his eloquence was in vain– Papa of course wd not hear of it, & wrote him in the first place to scold him for making such an application, but telling him at the same time to consider the subject well, & to endeavour to form a wiser & more feasable plan for himself– He talked to us on the subject again the night before he left us, & said something of sending him to you, but he thought there would not be sufficient employment for him on his estates, so that he is sure not to do so, but he seemed very anxious about settling Henry at once, & I think any tolerably prudent project, he might form for himself <Pap>a is very likely to acquiesce in– He talked at the same time of sending Daisy to some of the mines in Cornwall—but you must not mention this when you write– I wish they were both well settled– Papa wants Sep to be a lawyer– Georgie has got his wig, but we have not heard of any brief coming with it—but you will hear more of him from Papa who of course will write to you by this packet—if he finds time to do so, but I dare say he has been very busy with Capt Selby– Your last letter to him he received here, which he seemed well satisfied with in every way– What you say of the conduct of the negroes was very cheering, & your information given in such a businesslike manner seemed to be most satisfactory to him—the night before yours to him reached Torquay,—mine arrived, he was in the room When I read it, & of course I was obliged to give it to him after I had done so, although I felt a little nervous in doing it, & made some very ugly faces to Bro who was sitting next me– You say “the Governor’s letter to me is sufficient proof that he has not confidence in me” & therefore you conclude that you will not continue to be manager on the Properties—but Papa was not angry in any way, afterwards in speaking of you, he said he had always intended you to be so immediately on Mr Car[e]y’s removal, but as long as he was there, he thought that his acting would be an advantage to you, as you might profit by his experience—this is all that was meant, so dearest Sam do not be uneasy, all will be right with you, if you go on as you have been doing– Papa seems quite pleased with you! Capt Selby told him that if you only made as good an attorney as you have an overseer, you would be a great advantage to the properties– May it please God to continue your health, I think there is every possibility of your having the attorneyship of the Kinnersley properties[.] Mrs John Clarke wrote to Bummy as if she were anxious about it—& expressed herself much pleased with your letter– It was a great comfort to us to hear such a good report of our dearest Stormie, we shall be very anxious to hear further how business agrees with him, & how he likes it– Give him our most affecte love, tell him to preserve prudence, & consequently his h<ealt>h for our sakes, if not for his own– He shall hear by the next packet– Bro & Arabel are both quite well, the former is gone to dine with Mrs Johnes– He is quite happy just now, & appears to remain very constant—the lady the same—there are no riding parties, as Bro unfortunately has no h<orse>, but the eveng parties are beginning to be very numerous—& a great many balls are talked of for this Christmas– I wish you were here with all my heart to enjoy then with us– Bummy seems determined not to go out this winter, I am sorry for it– She sends you <her> kindest love– I think she will certainly go to Frocester in the Spring, for she seems to be tired of this place– Arlette & Cissy send you a kiss—& now dearest Sam I must conclude, for it is nearly bed time, & I have not packed up the papers yet– May God bless you & our dearest Stormie– Do not fail to let us hear from you constantly—& ever love
Your fondly attached
Henrietta–
I have written a great deal of nonsense here, & wish you could throw my letter into the fire, if you have one within a mile of you– Ba’s very best love–
Papa says nothing of my going to London therefore I suppose I shall be here for the winter, at least I hope so– As d<ea>r Bro cannot possibly marry without money, I think you <shoul>d not expect to hear of a wedding yet– I wish with all my heart he had had a profession years ago—& so does he– It seems a hard case that he shd be so situated—remember my instructions–
Address, on integral page: S. M. Barrett Esqr / Cinnamon Hill / Little River / St. James’ / Jamaica / Per packet.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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