SD726. Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother) to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 367 (in part).
[London]
Monday June 7th 1830
My ever dearest Henrietta
I suppose by my long silence, you thought I had cut you altogether, for I believe I have not written for three weeks; but you really must not blame me for I should have written long ago, had not Granny told me it was of no use writing till I had something to tell you, but I really cannot wait any longer, for if I was to wait till then, you would never hear from me. In the first place do not suppose I took this sheet of foolscap to fill it, but merely because it was the only sheet I could get, for Treppy is so lazy she will not even open her draw[er]s to look for one, she desires her best love, & says she has not written as she had nothing to communicate, so you see we are all stupid together, & will most likely continue so, till a change of weather, for there is no going out, without running a chance of getting your Sunday best spoilt, & your delicate nerves shattered by a thunder clap; Talking of nerves, I was very sorry to see by your last letter, that your teeth were out of order, although you said I should be glad to hear of it; now I send you in return I [sic, for a] very good, & I have no doubt but that it will be to you, a very agreable remedy, it is to take every night before you go to bed—a wine glass of French Cognac Brandy, only before swallowing it to hold it to your painful tooth, if one will not succeed, try two & so on, & in the end I have no doubt but that it will effect a perfect cure, I recommend it to all Ladies as a very pleasing beverage, but they are generally better acquainted with it, than I am. I am sorry to say that the Sterlings are gone to Scotland, I miss them very much, for I used to see them every day, I went with them the day before they went to the Zoological gardens, & I there saw all kinds of animals, & I was looking at the monkeys, when a lady told me I need go no farther than the looking glass at home; a civil way of telling me of my beauty, without flattery; nevertheless I drank tea with the lady & spent a very pleasant evening. I have been to the House of Commons once since I last wrote—it was the night of the second reading of the Jewish Emancipation Bill, as you said you were going to begin to read the newspapers, you of course read the speeches which in my opinion were very good, particularly the one from Mr Brougham, I did not think anything of O’Connells; I got home at four in the morning, I saw William Hewit there for a few minutes, but he did not stay long for he could not get a seat, it was so very full; he is gone to Brighton & is to stay there some time, I suppose as long as the cash lasts; his mother is still complaining—she talks of taking a trip to Rams–gate for a fortnight or so, whether she will or not I do not know, she still takes Physic & tells fortunes. Papa was very much shocked at poor Cakes madness, he says he was always such a quiet man, he should never have thought of his going mad. Dominick was here yesterday, & was to dine here, but he went out to call some where & never returned, he is looking quite well & blooming & I think gets handsomer every day. Mrs & Miss Barrett were here on Saturday, Dominick has not yet called on them, they dine at Mrs Dunns on Tuesday where I am to be, so I shall have the pleasure of seeing Miss Barrett, I have only seen her once & then only for a minute & I am very anxious to hear her talk as she is such a curiosity. I had another invitation to dinner on Tuesday to young Mr Wyatts but Papa said I must go to Mrs Dunns, as I do not know Mr Wyatt very well. I am going on Wednesday to a ball at Mrs Hartleys at Kensington, Dr Addams takes me in his carriage. I went last Thursday to St Pauls Cathedral to the anniversary meeting of all the Charity <Childr>en in London, it really was a beautiful night, there were about four thousand children there, th<ey> sang two or three psalms & the service was chaunted by the choir, they sat under the large Dome, a sermon was preached by Dr Monk but I could not hear a word, the children made such a noise, The Lord Mayor was there, he is quite an old man with white hair; after the service I escorted the Lady home I took there, Mrs Hewan, & dined with her, I played at chess in the evening & tell Ba I won every game, I of course cannot say anything of the Lady’s play. Tell Ba that young Knowles desires to be remembered to her, & says that he has not forgot her books that he has; I do not think he studies much now, for he is always riding about, & dressed in the very tip of fashion. I begg you will remember me to Miss Boyd.
Papa has just given me a message to Bro, he must order some men to mow in the front of the House & the borders of the Ice House walk, also the flower Gardens, & borders, & if the Women can be spared, to hoe the walks. I have now written all the stuff I have got to say & must therefore come to a conclusion for the Ink is nearly all mud, & my head is quite as thick, so with best of loves to all with you I remain your ever affectionate
Sam
Papa has an idea of going to the House of Commons to night.
Mind & write soon.
Address, on integral page: Miss H Barrett / Hope End / Ledbury / Herefordshire.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
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