SD1435. Frances Butler to Henrietta Cook
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 16, 297–298 (in part).
Ballin Temple
May 4th [1850] [1]
My dearest Henrietta
I did receive the tidings of your marriage from dear Arabella, & immediately answered her letter in which I sent you a loving message—but not knowing to what part of the world you had gone, I could not write to you, & even now, I am rather puzzled to know whether this will ever reach you as you give me no other address than Taunton & mentioned yr intention of leaving that neighbourhood to pay some visits– My dearest Henrietta, on my part, I can have nothing to forgive or be angry at—deeply have I felt for you & sympathised in your long & anxious trial, which when I was in London I saw you were suffering from. I then supposed that you had at first sought yr Fathers consent, before you entered into any engagement with Captain Cook, & that failing in this, you waited five years in the hope of a change in your favor—thus had I understood it when I recommended another application by both of you, before any decided steps were taken—however it is easily useless now to dwell upon what is irrevocable. You are married my dear child & my heart sympathises as much in the happiness you so sincerely express, as it did in your sorrows & anxieties– My earnest prayer is, that God may bless you, & enable you to bring about a reconciliation with yr dear Father, who depend upon it, however the contrary may appear, loves you & all his children truly & dearly, though perhaps that love may be a little selfish– I have always grieved over the little confidence that seems to have subsisted between yr Father & his children which has & must always engender a false estimate of heart & feelings, no worse enemy to domestic happiness. I think yr economical plan of a small cottage in the beautiful part of England you are in, a wise & prudent one[.] Young housekeepers should be moderate in all worldly matters at first, it is so much easier to increase than to diminish, & where there is such a long existing attachment on both sides it will stand in lieu of many comforts, which otherwise would not be dispensed with. However I do earnestly trust & hope that a Father’s forgiveness & blessing will ere long sanctify & gild yr union. These are sad drawbacks & I am sure yr conscience & affectionate heart tells you so, & that your mind is too truly imbued with what God requires from us in our different situations not to feel & know that however the Parent may think fit to act, the child can never be liberated from the duty & obedience due to that Parent—therefore do I feel assured dearest Henrietta that you will with all due submission earnestly & continually seek to be reconciled to your poor Father, who you well know has been severely tried & suffered much—he is one who cannot be judged by outward bearing but both the alteration of his looks & in his health tell a tale of inward struggle & suffering that cannot but be well understood– I deeply, as a Parent myself feel for him, & earnestly pray that God would open his heart to the only alleviation of sorrow & return to happiness, that of forgiveness & reconciliation with his childen—& surely such a blessing if properly & continually sought will be obtained– Many thanks for yr kind enquiries after my health– Save & except my old enemy rheumatism which during this long visitation of Easterly winds plagued me much, I am in the enjoyment of good health[.] Yr Uncle & Henrietta went to London ten days ago, the former on business, the latter to stay with her sisters during the gay season– I expect yr Uncle at home tomorrow & we are contemplating a Tour abroad but I cannot yet say whether it will be realised—the state of this unfortunate country is such that it is impossible to say what plans can be put into execution—& now dearest Henrietta Good bye, with kind regards to your Husband & wishing you both as much happiness as we can rationally expect in this world– Believe me to be under all circumstances
Your very affectionate Aunt
Frances Butler
Address: Mrs Cook / Post Office / Taunton / Somersetshire / England.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
1. Year provided by postmark.
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