SD871. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (uncle)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 334 (in part).
London
Feby 1. 1838.
My dearest Sam
Would that the greivous report of your sufferings had been absent from your letter of the 8th Decemr I mean that there had not been occasion for it, & then that letter had assuredly been one of the most acceptable ones, which I ever received as breathing the warmest affections towards me & as carrying conviction to my mind how large a portion of your thoughts my comforts & my interests occupy– Thank you, my beloved Brother over & over again, believe me you have ever been dear to me, but now how much more have I cause to love you, & how greatly to deplore your present sufferings; Oh would it please the Infinite Will to relieve them, & speedily restore you to health & strength; if prayers may avail, trust me there are a large store of them treasured up above; neither will I despair, & humanly speaking seeing how much you have contended against, & that of late you have been able to take some part in active duties, it is evident the vis vitae is strong & with some care of yourself for much depends upon yourself without reference to medical Men, who knows, what the result may be– I think that your chief ailment & the great cause of your suffering is the state of your digestive organs & for this I have great faith in those said Pills, but dont over do it in taking too many or too continuously–
I am sorry that you have had occasion & seen reason to change your opinion of Mr F. the grounds you state are certainly objectionable,—I will act upon your hint & as far as I can scouting every account &c– As regards your other advice, trusting no such an event will occur to make it necessary for me to act upon it, yet should I be the survivor your wishes shall strictly be complied with. Indeed I thought the Power you possessed from me would have enabled you to do as you pleased in this & every matter connected with me, but I suppose that in the appointment of Mr F. you handed over to him the whole of your power; it is a pity that you had not appointed him as from Yourself by which you would have kept the power in your own hands to act as occasion required–
I delivered your messages to Ba, who with the rest of my Children deeply sympathise in your sufferings– She has had & indeed still has a terrible cough that racks her, but I am told she is all sound, & that fine weather will restore her—God grant it–
Your friend Ld Durham is, as you will see, going to Canada, had you been at hand I should have got you to ask him to take Bro & give him some post in his suite;—as I never was on terms of intimacy with him I cannot, & as I suppose he is too good a Whig <to> depart from the true line of conduct of a Whig, that is to <forget> old friends for new ones, nay oftentimes for old enemies, I suppose the nephew of one of his oldest & most intimate friends has no chance, even did he know how much I desire it– This I will however say of him, that he is a striking man, & an honor to his Country, consistent in principle, stedfast in his love of liberty & withal practical–
Selby I suppose is now in Jamaica, I forgot to say he carried with him the anchor, indeed he purchased it for me & has kindly promised to see it properly put down, if you desire it– I believe him to be greatly attached to you & would do any thing for you that lies in his power–
We are prepared with our Case & now mean to move the Privy Council to order an early hearing– I expect your compensation case to come on next week– I hope you get the Examiner & the Athenæum regularly– And now my dearest Sam– May the Lord bless & keep you in time and eternity in bodily & spiritual health–
Yrs most affectionately
E M Barrett
Address, on integral page: S. M. Barrett Esqre / Cinnamon Hill / Little River / St. James’s / Jamaica. Redirected: Spanish Town.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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