SD564. Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother) & Mary Trepsack to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 341 (in part).
30 York Str [London]
Oct. 5th 1826. Sunday
My ever dearest Henrietta
I am very much surprised at not hearing from you when you promised to answer my letters when ever I write and I have not heard from you for more than a week and I have written so often, but I must forgive you as I know you cannot help it for you are so busy with the children hearing them their lessons, and making that little girl Ba walk out, we have just had a basket from James Trent for Granny with three Pheasants and a brace of Partridges—I suppose they were killed at Hope-End but not by Henery Trent, they are beautiful birds. Tell Ba that Tippy will send her books, I mean to say Bro’s books the first opportunity, I shall keep as many as I think proper. I suppose Papa will be here next week, I hope he will. Tell Bro that Lushington as the captain of the school, has got the silver meddle [sic for medal], but I do not think that Doctor Russell will give it to him for I think that a boy in Hopkins house will have his name is Parsons—he is second, for Lushington got Brockhurst helped him to do it and he told Rusell so. Tippy is writing to Rebecca and I am just going to write a line or two. I wish he would come to London for I want to see them very much. Granny has given me some new clothes and I have got them on to day and it is wet so I cannot walk in Bond Str—is not that a very great pity; Granny is going to give me a new great coat so I shall cut quite a dash, what a goose Bro was not to give me his old one, and get a new one. I know I am very glad of it. Do not you envy me[?] Tippy is going to give us goose for dinner to day, what does Ba think of that. Tippy is looking over me and she is determined to read it, she says she must write in it so I will not write any secrets. I have heard from Tippy the hop-picking supper what fun it must have been; I should have liked to have seen them dressed up and singing—James music have done so well for a balland [sic, for ballad] singer[?] how the old women must have enjoy[e]d it. Tippy says she will read all the letters that you send to me; so when you have any secrets dir<ect> to Charterhouse and not here for she will see them all. The bathing at Charterhouse in the cold bath is not to continue next week—I believe it is so very cold, but we are to have warm baths that is just a joke I should say. Foot ball is coming into fashion next week, so I am getting my chins into order. When you go to Foxley and Kinnersley let me hear and send me direction that I may know where to direct to. I am sorry to hear that Granmama is not to be at Malvern this Christmas, Give my very best love to them all for I must drop my pen as Tippy must write. Your ever affectionate
Sam
Write as soon as ever you can for I am I am very impatient to hear from you; I have not heard once either from Arabell or Stormy or any of them; they ought to be ashamed of themselves, for they promised so faithfully and they said If I wrote to you it would be The same thing. Tell them they must write the first opportunity. I shall to you next week from Charterhouse if I hear from you, if you have know [sic] secrets send the letter here first that Granny may see it.
[Continued in Mary Trepsack’s hand] I am my dear Addles expressly interdicted sight of the contents of this no doubt elegant Epistle– I expected a little more room for a message to yr dear mother—but it has just struck me that I never got her one of the fashions from the repository that I think she will like; If I have time I will write by Tomorrows post & enclose it– What think you of my going down Oxford St & meeting two youths who attracted my admiration—one I thought had a very sweet countenance, & struck me as having some resemblance to your little favorite, the next moment I was greeted with an affectionate smile, & my arm siezed [sic] by the dear object of my admiration no other than the Identical youth himself, looking uncommonly well & as I was on the wing for two or three visits, I challeng[e]d him as my escort[.] I have not written to either Ba or yourself very lately because I had no news to communicate– We heard from Mrs Hewitt yesterday—she begs to be kindly named—she is coming to London very shortly & we shall be leaving it very soon, ten weeks are passed in a most rapid way– This mng received three pheasants & a brace of partridges and thanks are no doubt due to Mr James Trent to whom you will present our Love with many thanks for his very great attention– Tell him he is a very good Boy & shall have our thanks in person when we see him, remember us very kindly to all that family—say to Ba, never to talk to me again about Campbell, I am in a rage whenever I hear his Name Mentioned. I enquired about the New Monthly on Monday & was disappointed. The advertisement in one of the papers say Miss LEL is to enrich the Literary Gazette with another of her poems. I hope when our dear authoress is as well known, we shall see her Name blazoned in the public press. I wish we could ascertain the Number of her Copies sold—she Must Keep up her Spirits, Merit will meet with its due reward. I hope she will spend a pleasant time with her old friend Mr Price—she has already found one disinterested admirer– Our best of loves to yourself & all our precious pets– God bless you my dear Girl—
Address, on integral page: Miss H Barrett / Hope End / Ledbury / Herefordshire.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
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