SD706. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 364 (in part).
[London]
Sepr 10. 1829
My beloved Addles
I have refrained from writing because I thou<ght accor>ding to your report that Ba had an intention to follow up the Pack<age which> we received with a letter, for which I have impatiently waited untill this morning– I was fearful from the silence that Bro might have been practicing his art at which he appears an adept on one of the Children, and in virtue of his certificate thought himself in every way justified in bringing down everything that had life, I need not say how happy I was to find that such could not have been the case, as Bro’s trumpet would assuridly [sic] have sounded forth his feat in her letter to me– I hope, in allusion to Bro’s appearance at the assizes at Hereford, that his conscience never keeps silence within him since that event, if his conduct there was to [illegible word] that any Road in the Parish of Mathon was not in a most indictable state & if I am right in my conjecture, the forgetfulness of the day on the part of the Cliff’s elicits itself in their over scrupulous sensitiveness as perhaps Bro would call it– Tell our beloved Bell, I called upon Mr Lewis, whom I found not at home, but that I wrote upon her letter, my name & address stating that it was left by me with my best compts therefore if there be any wish to see me, he is now without excuse; unquestionably tell her Biddulph’s Bank is as safe as I should say any bank can be, subject to the inroads of moths & rust & where thieves may break through & steal– Tell Ba I should have liked her letter better, altho I was much pleased with it, if the contents had been her own muc<h as> I like the Persons whose sentiments she quotes, I much prefer <the> effusions of her own brain; shortly inform her as I do not like to postpone an answer untill I write to her fully, “that death has <…> all men for that all have sinned, & if God in his electing love <has ra>ised from the dead some, who shall say what doest Thou;[”] tell her to read with special attention from the 37 v. of the 6th St John, at present this is all for her– Tell our friends from Kinnersley how much I regret not being at home to show them every hospitality, but I am sure they will meet with every attention from my representatives that is in their power, and therefore I must be content– I am very thankful that we [have] been permitted to get in our wheat, I hope Gizzle has not drawn it in a damp state; I suppose now I must only feel anxiety about the Barley & Beans, the latter though can hardly be cut, but upon the whole I endeavour to feel none, looking to the providence of God, who alone is wisdom, & who alone |makest| all things well– I hope my dearest Addles practices upon the Piano, I know she likes music & she knows how much I do, I feel there are reminiscences connected with it that are distressing, but with what occupation, with what duty, with what amusement do they not exist, but let them be hallowed to us, let us see God in all things & presume not to question his ways in thought, word or deed. My dear Pets I hope are all well & continue to deserve all our loves and anxieties about them; how I desire, how I hunger after you all I cannot tell you, God & my soul only knows, & I trust He will soon permit me to be released & restored to all I hold most dear on earth– Whilst I was writing a letter arrived from Jamaica, affording us much ground for thankfulness, our dear Sam <& his> Wife are very well the former better than he had been, & all th<ings> going on admirably[.] I have been so detained by the above circumstances <that> I must conclude, as I am going into the City—therefore <I send> loves & kisses to all around–
Yrs ever dearest Addles, very aff<ectionate>ly
E M Barrett
Address, on integral page: Miss H. Barrett / Hope End / near Ledbury / Herefordshire.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
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