SD1732. Mary Trepsack to William Surtees Cook
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 20, 367 (in part).
[London]
[late April 1854]
My dear Capt
I believe I ought to address you both, as I am as much in debt to one as to the other[.]
I thank you both for you kind notes– I have taken up my pen often, but dark weather, dark Eyes & bad health prevented me doing what I wished—since I got your letter, the grand Bazaar has past– I expected grand doings by Arabel—had you seen my anxiety about it you wd have thought I was to pocket all the gains– She might have filled the stall’s with quantities of beautiful things[.] I never was more disappointed, expecting to see a lightning show, then just my turn a crowd barred all the light from the window quite shut out– If the things had been placed the whole town must have been attracted by the beauty & great variety– I saw her things in Wimpole St but I did not see them at the stall–
She says, she is satisfied & so are all her friends, her friends the contributors of course wd not tell her plain truths as I wd, but if their private opinion was known it wd be disappointment. The whole was ticketted for 215£ & mad[e] 37– The gents of the Committee proposed that all articles not sold were to be sent back to the different contributors, so many had plenty for the next Bazaar—had you seen Seppy you wd have been amused– He made a capital Shopman recommending strongly the different articles & the |sailies| as being the best & cheapest that cou[l]d be got—his laughing good humourous face did much I am sure in persuading[.]
I suppose you two have not had your heads turned with all this Spirit mania– I am quite astonished at Ba so willingly lending herself to such things. It shews that even the most talented have their weak side. If Ba is so taken up with what is now passé what will she be (if she lives to see them) when more extraordinary things take place– The riegn [sic] of Antichrist has commenced, he seems to be already making converts.
Scripture you know; says such wonders are to be worked as to decieve [sic] almost the very Elect– I have not heard if the arrival of them [illegible word] here, but the clergy all name the subject from the pulpit– Mr Case has written on this subject briefly an Intention of guarding peoples minds from error, but it is said, that the Book has done more harm than good– Satanic Agency it must be—some have an idea that Nicholas will prove to be antichrist– God bless you all—great & small–
Yours affect’ly
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
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