SD1442. James Graham-Clarke to Henrietta Cook
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 16, 302 (in part).
La Galandine
12 August 1850
My dear Henrietta
Altho’ I am late in offering you my congratulations upon your marriage yet believe me they are not the less sincere, for chang’d indeed must be my heart & affections be if I did not feel warmly interested in your future welfare & happiness, often do I think of those joyous & happy days, when you & I used to run & romp over those dearest hills, where you are now residing, admire & turn poetic in gazing on & describing their beautiful scenes, & altho’ since then Fortune has attack’d me in some of her most outrageous forms, altho’ her storms have blown off my green branches, & left but a withered trunk behind, yet its heart is yet fresh & I hope many will see all its affections, & I love you dearest Henrietta, if possible, more than ever– I pray God may bless you & your good husband with every happiness. This I shall vain afford & I live in the hopes someday or other of asking you to prepare a bed & to sit the large arm chair by the fireside in some sweet little cottage for old Uncle James who is coming to pay you a visit– You will be glad to hear my health is reestablished, that I enjoy this climate, its forests & its flowers exceedingly, it is a gay, & merry land, full of sun, & fruit, tho’ a little dull at this time, & I pray for the excitement of another revolution, but |Changeniz| keeps the Reds the Bills in proper submission. If ever you are abroad, come here, I can find you a nice furnished cottage & garden for £12/year & another £50 will keep you in a much harmonious style– Robert Hedley returned last night from England, where he has been for a month; he had intended to have visited Herefordshire, but he was anxious to be at home, & to receive some friends. Jane & all her chicks are well– Ibbit is grown a fine girl, & the others springing up, like mushrooms—they have an excellent Governess, & are making themselves mistresses of the three R’s as fast as possible– Now seriously, I want you to tell me if I could get a small lodging bedroom & sitting room in your neighbourhood, & its price, & to describe to me the lodgings you now occupy & your ménage, as I am seriously thinking of returning to England, & know of no situation so much after my own heart as the neighbourhood of Ledbury. Do not mention this to anyone, but look out for me, & let me know all particulars. I shall remain here for the Winter, but remove in the Spring to some little snuggery in England. I hear Ba is coming to England, perhaps here, how I should rejoice to see her again, & read some specimens of her Italian Poetry. She has no doubt been culling flowers from the wreaths that binds the visionary brow of Dante Petrarch & Ariosto.– When you see the Martins give my kindest regards to them—I have a most affectionate feeling for them both. Are any of the Cliffes in your neighbourhood, or the Peytons, & who is the Clergyman at Ledbury—Dr Watts? & is my old friend Bridges, the Dr still alive– Aunt Bell is going to the Rectory at Kinnersley soon, perhaps you may see her– Now, dearest Henrietta, give my best & kindest regards to Mr Cook, & tell him, that his old Cousin hopes soon to have the pleasure of seeing him & cracking a bottle of good old dusty Port with him– All here desire their loves
& believe me
Your most affect Uncle
J Graham-Clarke
La Galandine.– write to me address’d here–
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
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