SD597. Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother) to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 347 (in part).
Charterhouse Sq.
Monday [20] March. [1827] [1]
My ever deaerst Henrietta
I am sure you are angry with me for not writing, but I assure you I had a very reason, on Friday we had a half a holiday because Mr Peel was elected governor in the changing of Hastings’s place so on Th<ur>sday some of our house had been sweeping the gravel off a place to play at Cricket, so on Friday we were playing and a bigg boy came up and flung our stumps away and said that place belonged to Boon[e]’s house, and I said that Boon[e]’s was a new house and he had no right to turn us out; so he got in a rage and ran after me—I got away from him and another boy, and another one stopped me he knocked me down and kicked me on the back and I did not feel it in the evening, but at <…> felt it pain me whenever I bent at all, and on Saturday I stopped out, yes on Sunday I went to the Doctor and he ordered me a black dose and 6 Leeches to be put on my back and some stuff to rubb it with; but do not be the le[a]st frightened I shall soon get it off, so |Spry| says; I think I shall have one or two more put on; I believe the boy is going to be flogged, his name is Fane, a great bigg fellow—Bro remembers him I dare say, so now you see I have a reason for I could hardly <st>and to write <you> must excuse this short letter for I cannot write <any> more. We had three little boys in our room on <T>hursday night dead drunk, two were flogged, but the third was too little to be flogged. When I was in bed last night a boy came and told me th<a>t he had seen monies [2] —what do you think of that, I suppose I shall see <hi>m to day, he says he does not know where he lodges <bu>t he saw him and spoke to him yesterday; you shall hear soon again when I can write longer letters. I could <n>ot go out on Sunday. Give my very best love to them all. Your ever affectionate
Sam
Do not be uneasy about me. Write soon and let me know how Arabell is, for you have not written for some time. I shall try to get th<is> franked.
I hope Papa has arrived quite safe– Give my very best love to him.
Addressed and franked by Samuel Moulton-Barrett (uncle), on integral page: London March twenty 1827 / Miss H. Barrett / Hope End / Ledbury / S M Barrett.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
1. Day and year provided by postmark.
2. Underscored four times.
___________________
