SD2726. Arabella Moulton-Barrett to William Surtees Altham
Listed in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 309.
[Dulverton]
[late October 1864] [1]
Dearest Surtees
By Occy’s desire I write to tell you not to go through Dulverton. Comb House is one mile from Dulverton—beyond Dulverton from Wiveliscombe– The latter place, you must pass through– We don’t know where Hele Bridge is, & we have no map of Somersetshire. But you must take the road from Wiveliscombe wh will lead you through a little village of Shillingford to Exe Bridge. The latter place is 2 miles from here. Go over the bridge take the second turning on the left hand side. You will see one road after passing the bridge, |directing| to South Molton. Don’t turn down there! The next turning will point to Brushford. Go down there & pass the church– Keep straight along until you reach the park gate, with “Private Road” written, & at the end of the park drive, you will meet with some most disagreeable people, whose society you must try & endure for a few days!!! I am so pleased Mary is coming. Perhaps she will not have a much pleasanter bedfellow than you & Teddy propose having—for she will have to sleep with me– Charlie is delighted with the thought of Mary & Teddy coming, & almost [2] as much pleased with the promise of the pigeons. When he heard of them, he said “Are they for me—for my own?” Ocy says, he would rather not have the boar, nor two sows. It seems to me, you are going to bring a menagerie with you! Ocy is sorry you didn’t arrange to come on Saturday– Ask Mary for me to look amongst her books, & see if she can find a little book I gave her when she was 5 years old. I wanted to get it, just to read to Charlie, & I can’t meet with it any where. I fancy it is a book he could understand & like. It is “Caspare”—something I think—about a woodcutter– Mary shall take back the book with her– You are to bring the dogs by all means– Ocy says further “Ask Surtees if he knows & would ask any wine merchants in Taunton if they have any sherry butts or brandy hosgheads to dispose of & at what price. Perhaps Walsh may know of some one.” The fact is, he is in a great distress for hogsheads for his cider– He has a large orchard—& all his apples are spoiling for want of hogsheads– Can you help him in this matter? I enclose Altham’s letter[.] What good letters he writes– Poor Altham! Ocy is delighted with his account of his battle. Plenty of spirit he has shown—but the bullying & fighting at public schools, is terrible work– We shall not always live in a world, where fighting is considered needful—happily. Good bye till Monday. My kindest love to Bell. I hope little Arabel’s cold is better–
Ever Yr affecte
Arabel
Address: Major Altham / Stoke Court / nr Taunton.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
1. Month and year provided by postmark. According to Surtees’ journal he, Edward & Mary travelled to Ocky’s on Monday 31 October.
2. Underlined 4 times.
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