SD658. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 358 (in part).
London
June 14. 1828–
My own dear Addles
One word or rather two or three I must write to you in gratitude & love for your kind Letters & affectionate expressions to me, yes my dear Addles, I never can be sufficiently thankful to God for giving you all hearts & dispositions I believe full of liberal love towards me and our dearest Mama; and above all, I am prosuaded [sic] with hearts in some of you ardent in the cause of our Lord & in others I would trust kindling with the same holy fire– Believe me, if I could for a moment conceive that love for Christ was not this Basis of the discharge of every duty in you, I will not say I would hate you, but of this I can assure you, I could not, I should not love you; however, I am not, thank God, placed in such a dilemma & that He will ma<ke us> a family of Christians, an household of faith is my reiterated prayer– How much I regret being still detained here particularly at the moment the Hedleys are with you, indeed–
if Fate had not found me
with Styx nine times round me
love & inclination should be victorious
The weather has been so fine the last week that I trust our dear Mama has derived every advantage from it by being a good deal out– Ba’s & Bro’s letters were so full of business that they informed me very little about her, but as that little was somewhat cheering I am not unthankful– Tell Ba to send me Mr Boyd’s tittle to the Pamphlet, in which he makes some observations on the Unitarian use of some Greek Word in order to substantiate their doctrine, but the misapplication of which he proves by reference to the Greek Classics, this is all I recollect about it, but she will fill up what is wanting to make myself understood; a Clergyman of the Scotch Church in Newcastle thinks of answering a publication of the Unitarian Preacher there, Mr Guoner, & perhaps Boyd<’s re>asoning might help him on his holy object– They tell me this is the last Bell, therefore I must make haste. Bro must start the Mowers on Monday Morning to begin with the Clover & then near the Molly Pear Tree, next the Iron Gate, indeed wherever it is very coarse & strong– It is too late to sow Lyndor, therefore let that alone– Ellen Money is to be married July 3—& poor old Mr Drummond is either dying or dead & the Apples are all gone as well as the Swedes, this is all the news I have to communicate from the Country; & from the Town, the Catholic Question is lost, but the Duke coming over, the Weather hot & Sam is here without being flogged this last Week, very melancholy but neverless I am told very true, still not to You so much so, as my assurances of the tender love & affection I bear you all
Yrs most afftely
E M Barrett
Address, on integral page: Miss H. Barrett / Hope End / Ledbury / Herefordshire.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
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