SD737. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 369 (in part).
London
Jany. 22, 1831.
My dearest Daddles
I believe that I stand indebted to you & therefore this shall be inscribed that I may obtain an acquaintance of all demands at your hands. And first what occupies my mind most, the state in which our beloved Ba is in, shall have all precedence; I cannot say that your Letter is sufficiently satisfactory & the very reason which you give for keeping her up stairs to guard against cold with the precautions you have taken to that effect has led me to suspect that she has some cough or something of the kind which demand all this necessary care, if so you should have said so, nay you should have obtained some advice better than your medical ingenuity could devise– It seems to me, if she has no cold or cough, that change of air which the Library with a fire in would procure would be far better to restore strength– I hope you both sleep in the Pink Room with a good fire in it, as being more airy which I consider an essential article to her return to strength. I wish much that I could be with you, not that I doubt your doing all that is necessary, or that whether absent or present we have the same God & Father to provide, bless & take care, but to satisfy my own perhaps too great anxiety; but I cannot leave Town yet, as I have all my Supplies to ship in a Vessel that sails in a week & which cannot be detained longer, having to accom[m]odate me, already exceeded her time– Knowing my anxiety, let me without diplomacy or concealment be made acquainted with what difference you see in her between what she is now & capable of now & a week ago, this appears to me the best criterion. You must not let the Butlers come down & therefore write to them to defer their visit, as I would on no account have them there at this moment. This is without appeal– I thank God for all things according to the Grace given to me, that I may be able the more I daily see his great power & justice in punishing sin in the creature, to observe & feel also his no less power & love in pardoning the work of his Hand through the all sufficient One; Indeed you say rightly it is a want of faith that makes us stumble & causes us to go nigh to say “What doest Thou”, but dear Daddles, He knows that we are but dust, & we know He pities his Children & according to his faithfulness He blots out our iniquities & our transgressions will He remember no more– The nearer we approach him in point of time, let us urgently pray that the nearer it may be for our Soul’s comfort in Spirit & in truth– There is one fact, that I stand by & on, the Holy Ghost speaking of the love of the Father towards the son, says “I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him” & yet God so loved the World that He gave his only beloved Son, even this one in whom He daily delighted and always rejoiced in, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish but have everlast<ing> life—& hence if a Miracle were to be performed in our be<ha>lf towards the fulfilling of all we desire here, it would not convince me one jot the more or add one <tittle> the more to this declaration of His own Holy Word of his infinite love towards us– Let us praise him then in all things in the fire, in the earth, in the grave, in the heavens now & ever–
Tell Bro to give you the money you want to pay the Bill & tell him on Monday or tuesday I will send him money to pay the Tithes &c—I think there is a working Jacket in my large Trunk, that will suit William Trehern to clear the things in– Dear Trepsacks continues I think to be well supported– I thank God for it, & also that you all with the exception of our beloved Ba are well– May He soon restore her & keep you long so to my comfort & joy–
I do indeed feel greatly obliged to dear Mr Curzon for all his kindness & attention; He is one of those living Servants of our Lord, for whom as sojourners on the earth we can never be sufficiently grateful– Love & kisses to all my dear, dear Pets, who live continually in my remembrance & may the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ have them continually in his own keeping–
Yrs affectionately
E M Barrett.
Address, on integral page: Miss Henrietta Barrett / Hope End / Ledbury / Herefordshire.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
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