SD754. Henrietta Moulton-Barrett to Julia Martin
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 326 (in part).
[Sidmouth]
[26 September 1832] [1]
I am very glad that Ba has been generous enough to leave me these corners to send a few words to my dearest Mrs. Martin. Words can still pass between us tho’ they are now few but my thoughts of you are not or never can be. Absence can never make us love you less I must join my thanks to Ba’s for your two letters the last came when you always came to bring us comfort in a time of distress. We were distressed for our own sakes to part with our dear Bummy but for her sake we were glad that she went. May it please God to make her happy! I wish I could hear that you were happy, as happy as I often pray for you to be. Do go to Rome both you and Mr. Martin I am sure [you] would enjoy it Bro told us of the kind wish you expressed that he should accompany you, I sometimes wish that you had never been so kind to us for then we should not have loved or cared for you so much as we do—but the time will come, we will trust Providence that it will, when we shall be again together in some part of this wide world– What you said about coming to see us has been a great comfort & will remain so– You see we are comfortable, we like Sidmouth, & we shall do so still more I prophesy– So when you think of us remember that we are as happy as we could be away from all we have loved so well– Ba is indeed better—what a comfort that is to us! Will you write again soon? Yes, I am sure you will. Your letters are great comforts to us. Give Mr. Martin our love. I shall some day venture to send you a letter of my own for I do like to talk to you, even this way.
My dearest Mrs. Martin’s,
ever affectionate
Henrietta.
Do the Biddulphs ever think of us? Give them with all our other kind friends our love.
They tell us that this is not the house—the Gumston. And this stands by itself whereas theirs was in a row of houses & nearer the sea.
Address, in EBB’s hand, on integral page: Mrs Martin / Colwall / Ledbury / Herefordshire.
Publication: BC, 3, 326 (in part).
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Date provided by reference to letter 466 (dated “Wednesday” by EBB) and to the postmark of 27 September 1832, a Thursday.
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