SD578. Mary Trepsack to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 345 (in part).
[ ]
[ca. 1827]
My dear girl if you talk or Write any more about gratitude you shall be blotted out of our good Book forever & also restricted to one peach per day instead of twenty-two– Love as much as you please, that will always give pleasure– I am delighted to hear of your little gaieties, your ride must have been enchanting, & with the amiable Mrs Sherwood the pleasure must have been complete—these little excursions will do you good, & your dear Mother too must have enjoyed it. I hope you will all go to the meeting at Ledbury as it will no doubt be very pleasant–
William Hewitt you will be surprised to hear is to return to England to pursue his studies at College, he had thirty days passage out, & found his guardian fully disposed to allow him every indulgence—desired him to go in the pens, & take whatever horses he liked, he chose two of the best, one for himself, the other for his Man Servant—his cowardly feelings in regard to dying sticks by him, If he can’t get away, he intends to remain till after Xmas on account of the Stormy months—he is to go to College with Mr Owens Son who is a steady young man, & one that will have a very handsome fortune– If he has any influence he may be of service to William– Mrs H has a sleeping room near to us, & takes her meals here, Mrs Nuttall & Ellen are staying with us, the latter has been ill, & is now recruiting her strength under our fostering care– I assure you sometimes we muster strong– Mrs Williams grd son is come to England to visit the Hospitals, & Mrs W being out of Town, he also comes to us, he is a little outlandish body, strange manner, has an Idea he can cure his grandmother, disapproves of what has been done for her in her late attack—has prescribed for Granny of whose Complaint he thought nothing—in short he is an oddity altogether–
Well my dear Addles in my haste to scribble to each of you by Mrs Trehern I got a few lines done, & laid all away thinking I wd again write more correctly by your father, supposing I shd have plenty of time, but lo & behold my gentleman sets off Tomorrow & leaves me no time, so I have picked up the old few hurried lines which I find were not committed to the flames as I thought– You are a very good girl, & you shall be mark[e]d in my Red Book– you were treated I think rather miserably & we feel most grateful for the anxiety you all feel towards us—& can only say I wish truly you were all here– I wrote to Ba two or three days ago, I don’t know that I shall take any more notice of her for a month to come, she is the most unreasonable young Lady I ever saw, to punish I will request her father to bring her to London to make Tea for us every night—Ellen Hines had a Letter from Mrs H yesterday which wd amuse you I am told If you saw it– I have not seen it– William is not yet arrived– I suppose he is afraid of Mutiny Storms at Sea–
I am happy to find your father talks of coming up again soon[.] It is a shame to run away before we have scarcely seen him– Put this scrawl in the fire—you Must Not Mind My Not answering your Letters regularly, but write often & let us hear you are all going on well[.]
I am now writing between the lights, therefore I cannot see & when the candles comes I Must Make Tea, & then to Cards with Mrs Nuttall– God bless you my dear Girl—best of Loves to all.
Ask Mr Sam what is become of his promise– I am puzzled to find out what is in that youth to Make you all so attached to him–
Tell Mrs Trant that her Brother was here today, altho better he is still very feeble—farewell–
Tell the witty fascinating youth that I wrote to him, to go by Mrs Trehern, but I know not what is become of it. We are glad to hear we shall so soon have the pleasure of seeing him–
Address, on integral page: Miss H Barrett.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
___________________
