SD1139. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Septimus Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 369 (in part).
Torquay
Novr 5. 1840
My dear Sir
You discharged your commission in a very satisfactory way, altho previous to your letter my anxieties on the subject had been removed by Cross’s letter of explanation. So far all is well, & I hope the next Packet will bring an account that the Suit has been dismissed, so that we may get the money, as a Court I see from the Jamaica Papers was sitting when the last sailed.
I am sorry to hear of poor George[’]s ill-fortune, but as the Negroes say nubber-mind, when he gets to look more healthy & is more strong, favors will flow in, for who would trust such a thin, weak creature, like him to carry them over a slough; He must study more, for the purpose of strengthening the bodily system, Cook on much-tone & less of Cake on Little-ton– Not so bad is it, You Prince of Waxters & Spellers– By the bye enclosed is a little memorandum, which I beg to recommend to your serious consideration, & to congratulate you on your rapid improvement in both the above Arts-verbum est:
I am glad for the sake of the Character of the Marquess of Northampton that he has taste enough to purchase the works of our matchless Poet; but there are many other Poems besides the Romaunt of the Page which are not collected. There is another one in Finden, the Amaranth, the Athenaeum &c. She desires me to thank you for your Note & to tell you the lines you quote were meant to signify Childish curiosity in the creation of God– I am happy to say that she has been a little better during to-day & the preceding one. We all approve highly of Mr Horne’s lines addressed to her; they are beautiful as well as true, & I am happy that, in the highest aspirations of her muse, he has spirituality enough to be able to appreciate them. I want you to execute the following commissions for me, & have the articles packed up & sent to the London Wharf before 12 o’clock on Saturday, to come in the Steam Boat, I think City of Glasgow—4 Copies of the Essay on Mind which you will get at Dawson’s Corner of Paternoster Row—4 Prometheus, under the Table in my Bed Room, & 4 Seraphim at Saunders & Co, & ask them when there, if the 6 Copies or 12, which was it of the Prometheus I sent are sold, & if so perhaps they would take more—a few quires of note paper similar to this, & 100 Envelopes something like what this is enclosed in, but not longer– Near Duncan’s at Groombridge’s Panyer Alley, Paternoster Row, get me the Sepr Octr & Novr Nos of the Inquirer—at Proctor’s 6 oz of Cuba snuff & 2 oz of Paraguy mixed, & at Chabonniers, Regent St, a pair of strong walking Boots for Henrietta. No 51.
If you execute this according to orders & in time, then you may help yourself & those about you from out of the Treasury with what money you may want for your own precious selves I mean. By the bye I wish you would find out my silk man at the back of the Post Office, Neville, & purchase for each of you a silk Scarf to cover the Chest as well as go round the neck, to keep you warm during the winter; the value of which I calculate I shall soon save in Drugs. Let them be good, or there will be no wear in them–
I enclose back Solomon’s Bill; why did you not all mark as usual what you had had, for it is impossible for me to know whether it is correct or no. You will see certain Qu: pencilled for information. Straps I never pay for, the second & third Articles I believe are mine; & they are the whole, if so, of what I have had in the half year Don’t return it, only tell me that it is right, & let me know, when I will give orders for the payment of it. Why dont you assist George in selecting Chambers, he never will get what I want him to have, namely comfortable & airy ones, if you do not interfere– Therefore look to it immediately. What of the Goods by the Etheldred, if Harry, or whoever has undertaken this job, dont stir himself, we shall have the wine spoiled, by the frost getting at it before its removal[.]
Bless you My dear Boys
Yrs very affectionately
E M Barrett.
Turn over–
P.S. Upon consideration, I find that you will not receive this much before 10 o’clock on Saturday, & therefore it will be impossible to transact all this business, Have the Articles sent to Wimpole St packed up, & forwarded to the Wharf before 12 o’clock; therefore all that remains for us is that you do it as soon as possible, & whoever takes it, must see that it is put on board, or I shall not get the parcel until the next week. If it should be too late, the Steamer being full which somethimes occurs; then it must be brought back & sent by the Coach, mind not the Mail– The Steamer tho does not leave till Sunday Morning. Again if you cannot execute this without interferring with your Master, beg Harry to do it for me–
EMB
Let me know if there is an extra charge for this. Love to Treppy–
Address: Mr Septimus Barrett / 50. Wimpole Street / London.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Gordon E. Moulton-Barrett.
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