Supporting Documents

SD1434.  Arabella Bevan & Arabella Moulton-Barrett to Henrietta Cook

Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 16, 297 (in part).

Tuesday [Postmark: 23 April 1850]

My dearest Henrietta

I am quite distressed to think how neglectful I must have appeared to you in both writing to you before now, to express my most affectionate congratulations on the accomplishment of your wishes, and my sincere wishes for a long continuance of your happiness. Just after I received your cards, we went to pay a visit in a large country house, where I had literally not a moment to myself. During my absence my dear little Baby had two convulsion fits, and she has been such a source of constant anxiety to me ever since that I have not been able to do many things I wished to do. On Saturday and Sunday she was really very ill, and we did not feel she was safe from hour to hour. I am however thankful to say that she is now much better, and I trust she may escape the recurrence of so severe an attack. Under these circumstances, dearest Henrietta, I am sure you will kindly forgive my long silence, and believe me when I tell you that although I have not written, I have thought much and often of you and have most sincerely rejoiced to think that your long trial has at last come to a happy termination and that with but one drawback you are now perfectly happy. The best wish that I can make for you is that your married life may prove as full of happiness and as bright, as mine has hitherto been through the unvarying kindness, and attention of my dear husband, for it is indeed the greatest blessing that one can enjoy in this world to know, that there is at least one person, on whose love and sympathy, one can firmly trust under any circumstances– Arabel tells me in one of her letters that it is quite refreshing to read your letters so full are they of happiness, I should much like to receive one of them dearest Henrietta and to hear from yourself your opinion of conjugal felicity– Pray offer (if I may send it) my kind love to Captain Cook and tell him that I hope before long we shall have an opportunity of becoming better acquainted with him– Poor Arabel must I think be very solitary without you and it must seem very strange to her to be alone– Have you determined upon settling at Taunton[?] Has Tunbridge Wells ever occurred to you as a residence– It would be very nice to have you here– I do not know where you are so I shall enclose this to Arabel for her to forward– I have not time to write more, and I hope you will sense this hurried scrawl– James unites with me in kindest love and congratulations. Believe me always dearest Henrietta

Your most affte cousin

Arabel Bevan

[Continued by Arabella Moulton-Barrett]

Many thanks dearest H. for yr delightful letter this morng. Arabel has stamped this, therefore I send it as it is. Alfred better. How strange you have not their letter.

Address: Mrs Surtees Cook / Taunton / Somersetshire.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.

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