SD183. Edward Moulton-Barrett (brother), Henrietta & Mary Moulton-Barrett to Arabella Graham-Clarke (grandmother)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 313–314 (in part).
Hope End
March 3d 1814
[In the hand of Edward Moulton-Barrett]
My dear Grandmama
I must write to tell you how much I love you, dear Grandpapa, & all at Fenham, & wish to see you; we had a pleasant visit to John; when you come here, you may ride up the hills, on our poney. Box Mrs. Bum & Lotte for me, and kiss Gpapa, & Jane. your affecte child, Mr. Bro.
[Continued by Henrietta Moulton-Barrett]
Hentta loves grandmam
[Continued by Mary Moulton-Barrett]
Thursday
My beloved Mother; Indeed all this is so shamefully written that I am quite ashamed, but I made them write it alone, and good or bad I know it will not be unacceptably to you, poor Hentta does not yet write otherwise than in sand, but she insisted on writing to you. A thousand thanks for your last delightful letter, which made me fancy I was talking to you. I delight in your chit chats, & your own cheerfulness was imparted to me, most particularly in your sanguine Expectations of our Meeting this Summer—thanks to you dearest Mother for saying that you will “positively see us”. please God, we all continue well– Indeed we must meet & I look forward with the greatest delight to your coming here which I think is by far the most feasible plan, & in the Autumn or Winter we might go to you, as I suppose E. is compelled not to leave the County for long together just now; I earnestly & anxiously hope the sad sad business is nearly at an End, if not entirely so. I see here is a letter from my dearest Father waiting E’s [illegible word] Arrival which of course I have not opened: I plan for [illegible word] you all to return with Mary & John, & meet the Butler<s …> here—it would be a delightful season for you all i<n …> Herefordre & we should be so inexpressibly happy! This is what I think about Night & day: Edward has been in town a fortnight today, when I expect him & Sam at dinner for the last four days I have been treated with Mr Hiltons Society, whose visit here has been long expected—he is [a] good natured Man, & bears patiently the Childrens Noise all day, & playing Backgammon with me in the Evengs—him excepted I have not seen a single soul since E’s departure, so that news I have none to tell you– Elizth Ridley wrote to offer herself to come tomorrow & stay a few days, & I dread to hear that she will not be acceptable to the beaux, particularly as we have not any room but this to dine & sit in the library being painted. Some of the brass ballustrades are put up, & the Elegance of the hall, really reminds one of the Arabian nights tales. I think it is beautiful and unique– The Drawings Rooms, now, are the only part of the house that exhibits brick walls interior. Thanks to dearest Lotte for her letter last night, which I read over a Dozen times—How I should like to have heard, Jane play! John Waldie & his music reminds me of many a happy Eveng. I am sorry James’s long visit made you uneasy I feared it would, but really the roads here, were utterly impassable—he promises now to read very hard, ’till the Autumn & Seems really determined to do so. Thursday night. The Beaux came to dinner blue with the cold—but looking very well– I have not had time to collect much news, but really am shocked at the acct of Ly. A– They dined with her,—She was dressed in black velvet, neck bare, with Necklaces &c &c three black feathers in her head in a bugle bandeau; Mr Beckett was there, & she amused them with playing & singing on the Piano, which she said she had always liked, only those she had lived with, did not, therefore She had given it up! All this would be too disgusting to Me to be believed, if E had not told me—they saw Kean the actor, & think him infinitely finer than Kemble, or any that has ever appeared– I do not think Sam has fixed his time for going to Carlton, he is quite pleased with the improvements in this place. I have not heard from John or Mary since I came from [illegible words] & long to hear they are on their way to you, as your anxieties are always mine dearest Mother– You cannot think what a sweet thing my little Bell is– She is very pretty & little, but laughs & kicks all day–Saturday Morng—I find Sam is not going at all to Carlton, he stays in London ’till the End of April & then he returns to Holland– it will be necessary for E. to go for a few days to Carlton for a few days in April when I anxiously hope he will go to Fenham– I fancy he wishes to take me to Town for a few weeks, some time in April & if he does, will take a house.– E. Ridley came yesterday, & talks more than Ever, but I never saw her look so well as she does in a bold Scarlet Cloth gown, laced before– They had a most noisy talkative rubber at whist last night—today we have a white world, it snows incessantly, so that billiards is the only resource– I fear poor Sam is already tired of Hope End– I am quite delighted you have such pleasant people as the Knollys. The Chancellor has given Henry John Ridley a good living near Dorking in Surrey to their great joy– Edward saw James quite well in Town– The talking will not allow me to say more– I am glad dearest Bell admired my pretty thimble, she gave it to me– Love & kisses to my dearest
Father & all Ever
Your most affecte Child
MB.
[Continued cross-written]
All here desire their love, Except Mr Hilton who Enquires much after my Father, poor man he seems so cold that I think he will soon return to Liverpool. What a stupid Scratch dearest Mother in return for your delightful letter. Sam has brought me a French pink satin gown
Address, on integral page: Mrs. Graham Clarke / Fenham House / Newcastle Tyne.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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