SD630. Angela Bayford to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 353 (in part).
Chelsea.
June. 23d 1827.
My dearest Henrietta,
Mr Barrett’s return to Hope-End affords me an opportunity of sending an answer to the enquiries concerning our Sale, contained in your last note– I am afraid that it is not possible to comply with your request that I would send some paper patterns of our pretty things, but I will endeavor to employ my utmost powers of description to convey to your mind a faint idea of the surpassing beauties of the elegant little articles, in the production of which our fair fingers have been most busily employed during the past winter! tho’ I much fear the most glowing language would inadequately set forth their different merits! Much of our labor was expended in inventing ingenious contrivances for uniting ornament with utility; and we found that any thing of this kind, whether it most partook of the beautiful or the grotesque, sold extremely well: for instance; Emily and Augustus jointly constructed a small cart, every part of which was convertible into some article of work. The body of the vehicle was intended for a cotton box and was accordingly loaded with little balls of different colored cotton—the wheels were pincushions as was also the donkey whose office it was to draw the cart,—a needle-book formed the seat, on which was placed a dutch doll, of proportionate size, dressed to represent the driver, whose hat was a thimble, and whose whip was a bodkin, with a needleful of silk drawn thro’ it,—the donkey was attached to the cart by netting pins which served for shafts. As I had no hand in the construction of this curiosity I may say how universal was the admiration bestowed on it, which was merited as much on account of the ingenuity of the invention, as of the great neatness of the execution, which was really surprising! I need not add that we fixed rather a high price on it, and sold it immediately. I would not advise you, my dear Henrietta, to attempt anything of this kind, as the time, and labor it requires is very great; but would beg you to do a great deal of needle work, which is sure to sell. We were very successful in our disposal of children’s frocks, both morning and dress,—caps capes, collars &c also Baby-linen. Indeed we got nearly 30 £ at the work-stall! as we also did by the drawings which answered remarkably well. If you could purchase a few embossed cards, and fill them up with your pretty little pencil drawings, or, if you preferred, with paintings, there is no doubt of the success at least if we may judge from ourselves—at present there is a great rage for skreens, particularly the persian ones which I think you must have seen; but the materials for making the latter are very expensive; should you, however, feel disposed to be liberal, pray make some of them as they are extremely fashionable;—at least at our part of the world; tho’ I know not whether they are equally in vogue in Herefordshire[.] Indeed, dear Henrietta, I cordially join in your wish that we could again meet, how delightful would it be to share your interesting imployment, I wish I could give you more information on this subject, but I find that so many things which I could in a few minutes shew you how to make, are not so easily described on paper–
Mama highly approves of the present system of doing fancy works for charity sales; she considers it a most delightful means of turning accomplishments to some good account. How many hours do we not expend in drawing and painting merely for our own gratification! These can no longer be considered as wasted if as in the present instance, the talents we thus acquire be employed to benevolent purposes– I assure you I no longer consider a morning spent in rubbing paints, and daubing paper so completely thrown away as I used to do, for I always console myself by reflecting that a slight proficiency in an accomplishment of this sort, is likely at some time or other to be profitable. Thus you see I quiet my conscience, and paint my picture together.
We have had one morning visit from the Clarkes and have twice called on them. Bel and Emma are both looking remarkably well, the former is grown much more en bon point than she was when last we saw her, and I think she is amazingly improved by it.
My Aunt has been very unwell, the sea-voyage and the smoky air of London have proved extremely detrimental to her. We try to persuade her that occasional trips to Chelsea would be beneficial to her, and she talks of driving over to us, to spend a quiet evening when Bel is amusing herself with the metropolitan gaieties. We trust that a few more days will entirely restore her to health. We fully expected the pleasure of seeing Sir Thomas Butler, and the rest of the dear party last Wednesday, but an unexpected opportunity for Bel’s going to the Opera having occurred, they were obliged to disappoint us; and your grandmama was not well enough, to allow of her giving us her company. Mr Barrett was kind enough to join our party, and our old friend James Trant also came by express invitation from the Misses Bayford. (Don’t be jealous!) He made himself remarkably agreeable, and has contrived to ingratiate himself with all our circle. Mama is particularly pleased with him. He has received an invitation for next Monday, when, if nothing prevents, we anticipate the pleasure of a visit from our gay relations.
The whole flight of the Kemp’s called on us yesterday[.] Harriet was dressed with her usual elegance, but we noticed the extreme paleness of her looks, which was very different from the sweet bloom of health that adorned her cheek, on their first arrival from the country; and I could not help fancying that her manners were less unaffected and amiable than they had appeared a few months before. The chief object of her visit seemed to be to make a display of her fashionable dress, as she took great pains to shew her beautiful worked stockings and to exhibit her smart gloves and hankerchief. This might be merely fancy, but I am inclined to think from a somewhat intimate knowledge of Harriet’s character, that there was some grounds for my conjecture[.] Mr Kemp was, as usual, extremely good humoured and friendly, and Tom the eldest boy, who is just returned from sea, expressed the most unbounded pleasure at seeing us again, and quite won our hearts by the open-hearted kind manner in which he spoke of the days he had formerly spent at our house. His great dislike of a Naval life, has induced his Father to remove him from the Navy, and he is to go to Cambridge in a year or two. In his antipathy to all that pertains to the Sea, he is a striking contrast to Albert Heseltine, who quite amuses us, with his strong attachment to his profession.
I am glad Ba is so much pleased with Irving’s new book; I have not yet been able to read it thro’, as there are so many more who have a prior claim to the first perusal: but Mama has read aloud to me some of the most striking passages in the preface, which have quite delighted me. His clear views of the future glories attendant on the Millenial reign, are most consoling and animating; they forcibly impress on our minds the folly, nay the impiety of loving “the world and the things of the world,” which are “not of the Father” when Scripture is so full of the most comforting promises of the blessedness that awaits Believers in the future dispensation. May He who is the “Shepherd of our souls” grant that you and I, my dearest Henrietta and all who are near and dear to us, may be of the numbers of that little flock to whom it is the Father’s good pleasure to give the Kingdom!
The darkness is so great that I can see to write no more;– so for the present, good bye; Tomorrow – hope to fill up the remainder of my paper (Friday evening-ten minutes to nine.)
Saturday morning. The Clarkes have been kind enough to settle this evening for the long-expected visit, agreeably to the urgent request of Mama, who was very anxious to get a peep at Sir Thomas B—before his departure for Ireland which is finally determined for Monday Next. My Aunt Clarke is not equal to the fatigue, & we must therefore be deprived of her dear society—— I shall finish this stupid letter to give to your Papa tonight, in case we should not see him again. And now before I draw this lengthened epistle to its close which doubtless you have been anxiously awaiting let me beg of you to give the following message to dearest Ba at the same time, softening the harsh reproof therein contained, with my most affectionate love, and remembrances– Tell her then, that she has been the cause unintentionally I trust, of depriving me of one of the greatest pleasures, I was formerly in the habit of experiencing– In days of yore, it used to be my high and valued privilege, to peruse the letters sent from Ba to Emily, which were, then, written in a plain elegant hand; but alas! those good old times have long since fled; her epistles now are so deplorably illegible (forgive my boldness, absent Ba!) that the sound good-sense and playful wit contained in them, are now quite lost to me. Now, I grant the propriety of her adopting this hand, when in the character of an author, she is inscribing the sheets to be transmitted to her publisher, but it is by no means kind or considerate that she should thus try the eyes of those who were never suspected of the crime of authorship. I know, dear Ba, will not be offended at this liberty in one whom her own kindness has rendered this bold– I could go on scribbling this nonsense for hours, but consideration for your patience obliges me to conclude with best love to all chez vous, & I remain my dearest H’s
sincerely affectionte Angela.
Address, on integral page: Miss Henrietta Barrett / Hope End / favored by / Mr Barrett.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
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