Supporting Documents

SD1436.  Sophia Dupuy & Arabella Moulton-Barrett to Henrietta Cook

Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 16, 298 (in part).

May 6th 1850.

My dear Mrs Cook,

My congratulations on your happiness would have been offered long since if they could have added to it, but as that did not seem likely, I deferred them until after the first shower of more interesting epistles should have been answered, altho’ my conscience told me that so pretty a note as in all your bustle you found time to write to me, demanded my best thanks:—I have however suffered so much anxiety of late for my sister who has been very seriously ill, that I have scarcely used my pen, excepting to her—& this is the first day I could write cheerfully enough for your subjects—accept then tho’ late my heartfelt good wishes for many & happy years of marriage as it should be—formed from a mutual confidence & long attachment—& as you know my opinion of Captn Cook you will not doubt my extending to him the same sentiments of regard—indeed I cannot but flatter myself that had I omitted the ceremony altogether, neither of you would have attributed it to neglect or indifference, altho’ I should have lost the character of “Epithalamium writer” (which I maintained in my own family until laughed out of it by the occasions becoming more numerous).

On my visit to your sister a few days since—I was sorry to hear that Mr B. is still obdurate. Your brother Alfred (whom I regretted to see on the sofa) asked me to come over & talk to him—but you might have occasion to say in that case “Save me from my friends”!—& your brother was not in earnest I conclude, as I have never yet made Mr Barretts acquaintance—& shall I hope still do it by your introduction—in the mean time I shall hope to hear frequently of & from you when you have no better occupation that to write to

Yours affectionately & sincerely

Sophia Dupuy

My best wishes to il sposo the Generalissimo of Taunton. Your sister told me of your “field day”–

[Continued in hand of Arabella]

All well. Alfred much the same. Nicky Peyton just come—the rest are expected this evening.

Address: Mrs Surtees Cook / Taunton / Somersetshire.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.

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