SD238. Mary Moulton-Barrett to Arabella Graham-Clarke (grandmother)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 317 (in part).
Baker Street
Novr. 27th. 1815
My dearest Mother/
Last night we arrived here, alive & well, & thankful to be again in dear old England, the blessings of which Even our short absence teaches us thankfully to appreciate; the joy of returning to our beloved Children is indeed by far the most delightful part of our excursion, for what variety of amusement can compensate for the blessing of being with them! I hope you have not been uneasy dear Mother at not having heard from me. I was indeed so constantly hurried in Paris, that I did not know where to find time to write, & was obliged to make one letter suffice for you & Baker Street from which I am assured you benefited. I did not like to write when we were about to depart to either place; because I know the anxiety it might cause after the loss of the Ostend Packet; therefore our arrival last night was infinite astonishment. I found my darling little Arabella getting well from one of her troublesome attacks the Effects of cutting two teeth, but today she is delightfully well again; and my dear Bro & Addles are shorn, suffering from the filthy complaint, ring worm on the head, caught we conjecture from the little Treherns; they are however much better, and in a very few days, I trust it may be quite removed, but these circumstance rather disturbed the joy of my first arrival: We left Paris this day week, Edward Ba & I in the open barouche, at three in the Eveng. & slept that night at St. Germain, where our King James was confined, the next night we slept at Vert Galant, where we were to stop from the rainy darkness of the night but found the accommodation so wretchedly bad, that we sat up all night, in a cold & gloomy apartment, the fit abode of ghosts, & made Ba sleep on chairs– The next night we reached Rouen. Nothing can be finer than the situation of the Town, in a Valley, thro’ which the Seine Expands into a lake adorned by wooded Islands romantic mountains rising behind the Town, a filthy place, but ornamented by a very magnificent Cathedral .. at six in the Morng. we departed, & at 9 in the Eveng. reached Abbeville the best Hotel in France, travelling without alarm of any kind. We reached Boulogne the following Eveng, & at five the next Eveng. we sailed for England; the harbour is a very fine one, and the weather was tranquil as Summer—for half way over, we really Enjoyed it, but for the other half, I suffered so dreadfully from sickness, aggravated no doubt by being accoutred for smuggling, stuffed with ribbons &c & terrified at the Custom house officers, who came with lanterns on board, as soon as we reached Dover; but seeing me really ill, I fancy they took it for granted I was in the family way, and let me climb up the horrible ladder to the pier very peaceably. We performed our Voyage in four hours a most excellent one in a French Packet. Our delay in Paris was owing to Sam’s arrival, who we left there to spend the winter, very merrily with Mr. Dundus & L’Abbe Grehern.
I had no desire to stay one more day there, having seen all the sights, & being quite home sick. No, there is nothing like to comforts of dear England. I was tired of dirt & magnificence. I have been greatly interrupted by visitations from Mrs. Trant, and Anne & Aubone Surtees, both of whom look particularly well—they had been to visit Bell Bishop, to congratulate her on two Events her marriage to Jesse Adams, & the birth of her Boy. Events declared at the same time, occasioning distressing conjectures, tho’ they give out that their private marriage took place a year ago. Dear Aunt H. I find called here yesterday to ask after the children; I hope to see her tomorrow. We shall stay a fortnight here & then go to Hope End. I long impatiently to hear how my dearest Father & all are. Pray make James write directly to Edward, he is very anxious to hear from him. Your letter in Paris was a great comfort to me. Ba is delighted with her journey & with your old letter today. A thousand loves to my dearest Father & all. Trepsack intended to have written to you, had I not come to be her substitute. God bless you all my dearest Mother
Ever your most affecte. daughter
MMB—
Address, on integral page: Mrs. Graham Clarke / Fenham House / Newcastle Tyne.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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