SD1818. Henrietta Cook & Mary Altham Cook to William Surtees Cook
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 374 (in part).
Wilton
May 9th [1855] [1]
Susan’s Wedding Day!!
<Altham> Mary & Mama were all sitting at breakfast together when Hutchins came in with dearest “Papa”’s letter. Thank you my beloved Surtees for the pleasure it has given us—as to coat, waistcoat & gloves! I am rejoiced you have bought them, I only wish you would spend rather more money upon yourself, & less upon others than you generally do– Don’t disappoint me about the cravat, for I have quite set my head upon you having a new one. Now you are in London, you must buy a fashionable one– You need not condemn yourself <about> extravagance, for I am sure you spend little enough upon your own clothes– As to the pots, I will send the measurement, but I fear the glory of the camilla’s is nearly at an end for this year, & is it worth while enthroning them? Particularly if we are to leave this (as Capt Malet says) next month but you know best– I think we shall have to send them to a hot house for the winter– I am thankful to hear of your safety & well being, to hear that dearest Mrs Cook looks better than you expected to see her, & that it is well with all others– Your little incidents amused & interested me not a little– Don’t be too hard upon poor Bummy– You may have misconstrued her looks—she is ill, & when people are ill, they are apt not to look amiable– I want to know if she has been to Whitehall or if she was invited to the wedding—as to “patronizing” it is too absurd. My dearest Arabel would of course be pleased to see you, she would have no love for me did she not love you– She will be of your party today– Oh! how I wish I were with you all– Dearest Susan is now Mrs Stone—you will tell me all about her, how she behaved during the ceremony, how she looked &c. &c. Poor dear Mary will be one of the nervous one, I hope I shall not hear of her being ill—& that dearest Mrs Cook is none the worse– I hope you will see all the others in Wimpole No 50/ before you return– Don’t come back dearest Surtees until Saturday on our accounts, if it pleases you to stay where you are for we are all going on well & the days will soon slip away– Little Mary slept with me last night, & was a somewhat quieter bedfellow than Altham, she is trying to impress upon my mind that she ought to sleep with me tonight too– I am afraid there will be a cry about it– They are both quite well– Altham sends you the enclosed letter– There seems to be a sort of partnership spring up between Morgan & us in the green house. I hardly know which are his plants & which ours—he has been here this morng, & watered them all the seeds in the garden also, & this he does two or three times a week it appears to me– I don’t know whether he expects to be paid for it—he took the camillas & gave the pots a good scouring– Hutchins is going on very well & quietly; just as when you are here. Esther is to make me stone knead cakes for my service tonight & miss H. Follett & I have been thinking that I should like to give the servants a glass of wine each, and drink Susan’s health. What “jollification” will you have? Only don’t sit up all night, & have a bad headache in the morng. I know the old fashions of 40 St James’ Place– No one from Tamfield comes, I fear we shall be in disgrace if we do not call on Miss Chadwick, I am glad you had John to dine with you at the club, as I dare say you both enjoyed it– Is he in good spirits? I wish you would bring him & Mrs Cook down here– I heard the cuckoo this morng for the first time—it is still chilly & now raining—after my long letter yesterday I have not much to say– I shall have tomorrow your instructions about the servant I hope– I work away at Altham’s frock, & try to forget my solitude– It will be rather a bore to go to the Colveton’s tomorrow eveng to drink tea—very kind all the people are– Robin has just been here, His poor wife much the same neither better, nor worse. She can do nothing but lie on the sofa & read– Robin seemed struck by Altham’s improved looks, he said he never saw a child recover his looks so soon– Johnny has got into the 60th Rifles they are delighted–
Take care of yourself my dearest Surtees, and never forget how much you are loved by
Your ever affecte wife
Henrietta
[In the hand of Mary Altham Cook]
dearest Papa. I hope you tuite well to me home safe, and bring a bun for little Mary and Altham I tiss you dear Papa– Your own little Mary–
[Continued in the hand of Henrietta Cook]
I have taken the diameter round the brim of the pot which extends beyond the pot, it is as you will see by the black thread nearly the length of the string—the 2d black thread is the depth–
Address: Captain Surtees Cook / 40. St James’ Place / St James / London.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
1. Year provided by postmark.
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