SD703. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 364 (in part).
London,
[31] July 1829 [1]
My dearest Daddles is entitled to have her time next occupied in reading a few lines from me, and altho I have nothing to communicate, yet the consciousness that you will all expect to hear from me this week induces me not to disappoint you– I was greatly pleased with dear Stormy’s letter, the writing as well as the stile do him great credit, & the information respecting the farm I am obliged to him for as the only one which I have received since my absence– Tell Stormy also the few lines he sent me were very acceptable– Indeed my dear loves you are all extremely dear Creatures and I believe are evidences that prayers are never offered in vain, may you in after life never bring a reproach on this happy prospect but prove more & more to the World that you have the Witness in you & strive continual[l]y to follow him in all his ways, Who was & is our great Example– I was sorry to hear of the dreadful event in Mr Stephen’s family, May it be the means of releasing him & his poor Wife from the bondage of the World, to which they, particularly the latter, have been so strongly bound– Tell Ba, I have in possession the parcel from Mrs Mathews for Mr Boyd. I found the Lady agreeable & decidedly very pious, but clearly not so alarmingly advanced in years, as to fear her immediate departure from length of days; She appears to be about 50– She says that she observed a sensible decrease in spirituality in Mr Boyd from the time of his intercourse with Mr A. Clark[e]; I hope no such result will take place with the late reader of his Arminian Commentaries on the Bible– When I called at Chelsea sometime ago to deliver your present Mrs Bayford told me that she had heard from Fanny Butler requesting her to enquire for a Governess for her, but considering the qualifications which were required in one & the little salary offered namely £20 she thought it useless attempti[n]g it; since which I met Major Butler, who told me he had heard from Balay temple [sic] desiring he would give the best information he possessed as to the most eligible place for education in France, I told him my views on the subject in which he so far concurred with me, as to beg that I would write and advise their adoption, this I told him I could not do but through Miss Clarke & of course that was a channel he could not but approve of, as carrying with it such power of persuasion & interest; if therefore our dear Bell thinks well of it, perhaps she will write & state the very disagre[e]able situation Fanny will be placed in being abroad without Butler untill May, the extreme difference of comfort between her present home & another to seek, the injury to her place not only in keeping it up, but in omitting to do what would present itself as necessary to be done were they on the spot, the very great question whether all the advantages they anticipate would be realised as regards their Children or rather could they not at home obtain them all by giving liberal salaries– I am sure they could & this without evil example being brought continually before the Children’s observations. Both Tutors & Governesses of the highest attainments are to be got, if they will give the price & I am convinced in point of prudence, I mean economy, much money may be saved in staying at home; without all question Ireland is the cheapest Country in Europe, indeed without any other consideration, the mere Rent abroad for a House fit for their large family, would more than pay the Salaries, Persons I contemplate would require for their services in Ireland– Besides which the avoidance of all constant anxiety of the Children becoming frivolous becoming in one word foreign– I am delighted with Bell’s plan, as giving you more of her time, as giving the opportunity to Charlotte of obtaining a change of air & scene & securing James & all of them a comfortable fireside Party next winter– I thank God for the safety of dear Jane– There is one thing I nearly forgot to mention, that is that none of you would give, as perhaps you might in joke, any facility to Dominic meeting the Biddulphs, as I am sure were he to offer to any one of them We should all be laughed at– The Man’s quite foolish & I fear will get himself into some scrape with his marrying monies– God bless you all my own darling’s prayer[.]
Yrs ever affectionately
E M Barrett
Address, on integral page: Miss H. Barrett / Hope End / near Ledbury / Herefordshire.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
1. Date suggested by postmark of 1 August 1829.
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