SD750. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 326 (in part).
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Jany. 21. 1832.
My dearest Daddles
I had been in hopes that I should have been with you before this & I suspect such must have been your opinion or I should have heard from someone this ‘morning’ but here I am & must be here untill Tuesday next in any event; however favorable things may progress, as the Yankees say, towards my departure– I doubt not that you are well and flatter myself that you are all miserable without me as I truely am without you & our joyous Evenings– I should have written to Ba on the subject of her lines on the Pestilence but that I may not give umbrage to her modesty or rather increase her self-complacency I will say my say to you– I think them beautiful, most beautiful & there is a spirit in them like Milton’s South West Wind on a bank of Violets, breathing & giving odours; the effect of the repetitions à la gifted Persons at Tronis, is very good and when read over often so as to feel them produce something of the same awe upon the Mind—and now as to my dislikes, the last verse but one is too tame for what precedes and as ushering it [sic] what succeeds; in the last stanza there is a mistake namely the “Serpent’s brass” for it was not a brass of a Serpent that Moses made, but a serpent of brass, therefore in all humility I submit, it should be written “The Serpent brass”– I met a friend of Mrs Bayford’s & sent her the number of the Times which contained it. I have given it to the Publisher of the Pulpit who will insert it soon– There is no truth in Miss Gibbons holding forth at Irvines, the only addition to the former number being a Gentleman from Doncaster of the name of Baxter– I have been twice to Irvine, but was disappointed both times in hearing the gifted Persons, the last Time which was last Wednesday Evening I heard such doctrine & such opinions that I shall keep out of the way of being offended in like manner again—the man is clearly in great darkness, I pray God to give him light that he may escape for his life– The weather here is miserable, cold, dirty & foggy; I find the Cold must have been more severe here about Christmas than it was with us, as <the ice> was strong enough to afford the day[’]s skaiting– I hope that you are all good & gentle and require but very little correction but which whenever necessary[—]I hereby empower Seppy & Ockyta to inflict with a bundle of Nettles–
Yrs my beloved ones most attached
E M Barrett
Address, on integral page: Miss H. Barrett / Hope End / near Ledbury / Herefordshire.
Publication: Diary by E.B.B., pp. 297–298.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
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