SD1133. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Septimus Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 368 (in part).
Torquay
Sepr 12. 1840–
My dear Sept
I must first tell you what I know you are all most anxious about, the state of our dear Ba: yesterday she was really very nicely, the pulse being down to 84, & this morning when Scully was here it had only risen one beat 85, but in consequence of her being taken up to day & placed upon the sofa for a quarter of an hour, it went off at a countless pace, & the exertion, slight as it was, produced very great exhaustion. It was however to be expected in a measure; & I trust she may get some sleep to-night, which will do great things for her. The spasmodic action in the throat, upon swallowing, is certainly very much diminished, as well as the fainting upon falling asleep; this is good, & for which we should be thankful, as they were very distressing to her. What God’s purposes may be concerning her we know not; it is for us to wait in patience & watch unto prayer–
This day week I wrote to Harry desiring him either on Monday or Tuesday at furtherest that he would call at Messrs Andersons & give them a little note which I enclosed, authorising them to pay him £300 with which he was to discharge my account for insurance at the Marine, due on Tuesday, according to the paper he sent me, & which I returned to him amounting to £271.9.9—but not a word have I had in answer to my letter; if he received it, it is too bad that he should have neglected to let me know, particularly as I told him that if the money were not paid by Tuesday I should forfeit the 10 pr cent allowed for discount, & I further told him that I had another sum for him to pay in the course of the week but I wanted this settled first. I begin to suspect as you said nothing about in your Note of yesterday, & Mr Anderson in a letter of his on Wednesday makes no mention of any payment made to him on my account, that my letter never could have reached him, if so he must go to Mr Anderson & read to him this portion of my Note, get the money & explain to the Officers at the Marine that instructions were sent, but by some unaccountable means they were lost; & of course with the Memorandum which is usual to take when the payment is made– The balance of the £300 after paying the insurances was to go to the usual expences of the house. Now let this be attended to immediately & let me hear by return of Post.
Did you get the £50, & did you give the 6 or 7 pounds as I told you, for nothing have I heard of this either.
I think that you must be wrong in saying that there are only 53 windows; do you include the |borrowed| lights, those on the kitchen stairs, & near the door on the left going down, the several Sky Lights &c, be particular & let me know, besides I think there are two, which would for their size counted for four, that in the Kitchen, & that in the passage leading to it. But if I am to make any appeal, no time is to be lost, therefore see to it.
I should like to give my proxy to vote for the vacancies in the Christian Union Houses to the Gentleman, who usually collects my subscription, but his name I have quite forgotten; he takes a great deal of trouble about them, & is best acquainted with the peoples objects for the charity. He is a tall, thin man, & I have no doubt has or will call. Should he do so, some one might ask him, whether he is the person who has always received my subscription, & if so desire he would send me the proxy paper, & I will sign it, or perhaps one of you might be allowed to do it for me–
With regard to the Infant Orphan Asylum ask Captn Selby if either he or Captn Bruce know any poor Captns Orphan, whom its friends desire to get into the Asylum, & if so they must use my vote or votes for the purpose. If my subscription be due the former will pay it for me, & I will settle with him when we meet–
Let me know what the balance of Mr Moody’s account is & I will then let you know my wishes–
It is all stuff about Kenyon’s marriage the report began I have no doubt with those who have nothing else to do but to exercise their imagination in what we shall invent next–
Mary Hunter did easily work the lace, part of which at least, I can vouch for as I saw her engaged upon it–
Why you are quite at liberty to ask the reason of Stormie’s vast display of gratitude, & I have no reason to withold an answer to it. I thought that he might feel more comfortable were he Master, instead of Master’s Man, at the Retreat, & I thought that he & Samuels might manage the Pen very well, & therefore I offered to send him a Power of Attorney to superintend that property—that’s all–
You are quite right about him, he wants more to rely upon himself, & use that sense that he possesses, & I am sure he would do very well– Some one of you must write to him next packet, which by the bye is Tuesday next–
I will tell you a piece of news, but perhaps you know, however I will take my chance of its being news– Annie, Gordon’s Sister, I mean Annie Barrett who was supposed to be so very ill, is going to be married to one Mr Martyn Roberts; all I know of whom is, that he made himself known at Edinburgh as a scientific inventor of considerable power. He is 34 yrs old, a widower with one little girl, whose Grandmother has entirely adopted.
And dearest Sept—good night—& with love to all, Treppy included
I am, Yrs very affectionately
E M Barrett
I have enclosed the Orphan Asylum Card to help your memories.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Gordon E. Moulton-Barrett.
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