SD1150. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 5, 378 (in part).
[London]
March 4. 1841.
My dearest Henrietta
If from forgetfulness of the approach of the 4th March you have not received a letter, I will not say, of congratulation to you on the return of your birth-day, yet certainly to all around you, I will not, in any event, allow the day to close without writing a line or two– And in wishing you every future happiness, I need scarcely say that I earnestly desire the best gifts, which it may please a gracious Providence to dispense, so that as time accedes & eternity approaches, you may the more be prepared to part resignedly with the one, for the possession of the promises, which belong to the other. May each year, my dear Henrietta, make you willing & able to live more unreservedly to our Emanuel’s praise– And such as it is take the blessing of a fond parent– Tell Stormie his letter shall have every consideration, & then answered– I suppose that you saw in the Paper the death of Mrs Gordon; the sister, & I believe the only surviving one, of Mr Biddulph: She was carried off by the same complaint, which has threatened him so long, Paralysis– Georgie you know has left us for his Sessions & Circuit speculations, which I fear will not come up to mine in point of value, at least I am flattered to believe it. I have seen Ldy Bolingbroke’s Picture, & whoever may be the Painter, I am much out of my calculation, if she ever realises £200 for it; however dont you tell her of my mind about it–
Would you believe it, that a few days ago on my return home, I found Cards of call from Mr & Mrs |Fooner|, Mr & Mrs Vansittart Neal & Miss Ridley: Why what could have possessed the people to visit here; doubtless they have had intimation of some great honor being about to be conferred upon me, of which I am unfortunately yet ignorant; Mind you therefore look narrowly into the Gazette, that you may have the earliest public intelligence– By the bye talking of great Men, I heard an anecdote of the Prince Albert which speaks much for his good sense as well as of his actual folley [sic]– After he had finished his lesson with Mr Selwyn who teaches him the constitutional law of England, he said, perhaps Mr Selwyn you would like to see the Princess Royal, of course the reply was that he should wish to have the honor; upon which the Child was sent for & the Prince took her in his arms & holding her out to Selwyn, observed I dare say you see nothing more in this Child than in any other, but i do though– Is it not preatty– Dont you think our Ba will like the sentiment contained in it—and cannot I in presenting her to any one, who can discriminate, say more than the Prince felt himself warranted, namely, not only I see a difference between her & others, but they also must acknowledge it– Dear Puss, I meant to have written to her, after I had finished this, but I have such a pain in my eyes that I must postpone doing so until to-morrow, when I will write before I go out if possible, in order that she may hear from me on the 6th
Ask Mary for her Father’s direction, as there is a letter resting here for him–
Give best loves to all around you—and believe me
My dear Henrietta
Yrs very affectionately
E M Barrett
Your report this time is very tolerable nay very comforting– Here is a letter come from Tallow– Mr Gutteres’ Estate is at the other end of the Island, & however disposed he can never help me– My Eye is so bad that I cannot write to my precious one to-day, but to-morrow I will; it is something of the influenza so prevalent here–
Address: Miss Henrietta Barrett / Beacon Terrace / Torquay / Devon.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
___________________
