SD829. Martin Williams to George Goodin Barrett (1792–1854)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 333 (in part).
Bryngwyn, Oswestry
Sept 16. 1837.
My dear George,
It was, I assure you, a great pleasure to receive at [sic] letter from you after the long interval in our correspondence. I really could not imagine what had become of you, particularly since, during my short visit to Leamington I was given to expect your immediate return home. I need not say how much we were disappointed to leave the place without a sight of you. Had you come home before we left Leamington we hoped to have persuaded you to pay Bryngwyn a visit during the summer, & I trust it is not now too late in the season for you to undertake the journey. I am certain the change of air, & our mode of life would do you good, & raise your spirits. It is not wise of you to pass the melancholy life you do at Leamington. The same scenes daily before you eyes, with no prospect of the recovery of your poor invalid, must affect your mind. We are all most anxious to have you among us, & all join most heartily in wishing you to fix your own time. I will come to Salop to meet & bring you on. I will also reply to the business part of your letter–
I sincerely console with you in the stoppage of the Leamington Bank, but at the same time congratulate you that you have not been a greater sufferer than you have stated. I acknowledge, with the utmost gratitude, the delicate manner in which you have asked me whether it is convenient for me to make you a payment on my long standing debt, either at present, or during the winter. I will reply to your kindness with the most perfect candour, & say that at present, I have nothing at command to offer you; because only a small part, as I expect, of the remittances from the Old Hope have reached England. In the course of the winter I may reasonably calculate on further remittances, & from that fund, I hope, it will be in my power to offer you some sort of payment, but until the money actually comes I am unable to say what may be the amount. You may be sure it shall be as large as possible, but this amount nevertheless I cannot expect will be nearly equal to my debt to you.
I should very much like to pass a part of the winter at Leamington, but, I fear, there is little chance of my funds enabling me to do so, therefore I trust this will be an additional motive to induce you to come to us.
Ever most affectionately yours
M Williams.
May & I were delighted with your little girl.
Address, on integral page: Capt. Barrett / Milverton Lodge / Leamington.
Dockets, in hand of Edward Alfred Moulton-Barrett: Wife of Capt George Barrett [referring to “your poor invalid,” in 4th from last line of 1st paragraph]; My mother EAMB [referring to “little girl,” in the postscript].
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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