Mary Moulton-Barrett to her daughter Elizabeth Barrett, on receiving advance copies of the latter's first published volume of poetry the previous evening, 28 February 1826: 'Arabel, who had read the fugitive pieces and some of the Essay to the listening circle [in drawing room], told me she thought the former beautiful, but that she did not understand a word of the former [sic] [...] & Henry who was indulging in turning "[italics]clean[end italics]" over head & heels, after his intellectual treat, declared he thought "every word of it, was very nice indeed." After these learned critics had betaken themselves to bed, Papa & I, each with a precious little vol: in our hands, drew close to the fire, and conned over every word [goes on to discuss reponses to individual pieces in detail]'.