SD878. Anne Elizabeth Moulton-Barrett to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 335 (in part).
Tunbridge Wells
28th February 1838
My dear Sam,
What can I say to the news brought by the last packet? You must know something of the affection I bore him who is gone, but neither you, or any one else can ever know the agonizing feelings that affection has cost me; spare me the pain of entering on them: it is well that I am so far away, for I never could have borne to be near, & yet still debarred from attending on him, during this last illness. Let me only say how much it comforts me, that you have been present at such a time[.] God bless you, dearest Sam.
Mr Anderson’s letter to your father is most satisfactory on those points that I wished most to be a[c]quainted with, & I thank him a thousand times for his faithful kindness. Would that you have given me the words used respecting myself. Can you keep them in your memory till we meet? We are to meet soon, I suppose you have heard from your Father giving you permission to come, & I should not have written this, did I not desire that you should have some ackno[w]ledgement of your letter e’er your departure: he has been very kind, & allowed me to decide his doubt about your coming. Dear Ba is still very poorly, with a sad cough, to cure which we look anxiously for the spring: What a sweet creature she is!
My brother brought me down here yesterday, & has left me alone to recruit mind & body, for I have become much weaker of late, & want quiet: I already feel the change beneficial, & hope to return to <Lond>on when the season is over th<ere> & begins here, which will be in time for your arrival– And now shall I tell you that I have been deeply grieved at never having had a single letter from you (till the last painful one) since I left Jamaica, not even an answer to mine? It is so, for I wished to hear all about you, but though grieved, at the want of intelligence, & your apparent forgetfulness of me, I have not been angry with you: it would take a great deal to produce this, & make me cease to love you very deeply, & I have rather attributed your silence to some cause over which you had no controul, than charged you with fickleness– I was fain to believe that you had written, & that some accident had prevented your letter from reaching me.– I trust that you will soon make up for the past by your viva voce particulars of every-thing interesting to me– Let me however, make one bargain with you: If you can, pray see my gr mother, & Mrs Evans before you sail, & bring me a letter from one of them, as I am anxious regarding the former, who I fear is breaking fast.– I am not capable of writing to Lady Rowe by this packet, but another shall not pass without thanking her & Sir Joshua for their attention & kindness: My best regards to them. Ever believe me dearest Sam
Your’s most affectionately
A E Barrett.
I have spoken to yr father about Junius & his wife & I trust they will be made comfortable at Cinnamon hill.– My brother will send out a power of Attorney to Dr Spence & Mr Kitchen jointly to act for me in selling or leasing Bloomsbury. I should like Dr Spence to have the easy chair he used to sit in, & Mrs Spence, the desert [sic] set of flowered china, the silver candlesticks, & pair of cut glass dishes with corresponding shades, as some memento of me– This has been signified to them, but I mention it you lest you should have anything to do with them. Perhaps, you will have the kindness to bring with you, whatever plate and linen m<ay> be in the house; I should wish to retain them for many reasons.
AEB
Address, on integral page: S. M. Barrett Esq. / Montego Bay / St James’s / Jamaica.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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