SD898. Joshua Rowe to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 335 (in part).
Spa[nish] Town
21 April [1838]
My dear Sam Barrett
I am only this morning returned from Kingston having had a very long & fatiguing Court which ended last evening—what your father says about Farquharson has not at all surprised me & I hope the |planting| Attorney has been taught a lesson he will not readily forget. I presume from your father’s letter that you have written him respecting a hesitation about going home & as I suppose you wish me to give you my opinion I shall do so without |answer| & that is that you do not abandon your plan of leaving in the next American packet as I have understood you fully to have decided on doing—it is clear your father is very anxious to see you & considering the change which has taken place within the last few months if the necessity which is of his being fully informed on all matters connected with his properties here. I think you would be very wrong not to gratify his wishes to see you—besides your health requires a change. I should like to be informed of the highest offer for Bloomsbury for if it is to go for a sum less than £2000 as it stands I should feel very much disposed to become the purchaser—as an investment of money– Will you therefore find out for me what are the expectations of the |Govt:| who are acting for your Aunt; if I become the purchaser your father should if he wishes have the property for the same sum that I might pay for it–
Aikman’s [illegible word] appear large but I can form no opinion of their propriety as I am not at all aware of the extent of the business he has done for your Uncle’s estate– I believe him to be a very honest & conscientious young man & do not think he would render [illegible word] for more than is exactly due him—with these remarks I return thence to you & also your father’s letter–
Your father appears most anxious that your uncle’s remains should rest at C.H. I have spoken to |Fergusson| or the [illegible word] & he thinks they can be removed without any difficulty by placing the present coffin in one of lead—if therefore you think your father would be pleased by the removal & that we could do this without further consulting him I will endeavour to get all that is necessary done—as to |Fergusson| I am sure he would be gratified by any mark of regard & a table cloth or any other drawing room ornement [sic] would be acceptable to him–
I presume the chairs you are to send me are not more than 1 doz as I should not know what to do with a greater number—be so good as to let me know the name of the dragger in which these & the pots & pans are shipped for otherwise they may lie on the wharf for months.— Mad: |D’Etrié| has been saying masses to her heart’s content & is looking very well & happy– The fever has certainly left her & she appears to be quite reconciled to her new abode– I suppose you have made Mr Tinkler’s heart glad by telling him he is to remain at C. Hill– You will have some letters of introduction for New York– I have not had a moment during the whole I have been in Kingston to see Cater or any one to get these for this post– Lady Rowe hopes you found Mad: D’Etrié’s money quite safe– believe me
Very truly Yrs
J.R.
I should think the papers to which your father alludes had better be given to Anderson, but you should be careful to take a list of them– I will take care of them if you wish– I think you had better not pay Aikman’s [illegible word] till your Father has seen them–
Address, on cover sheet: S. M. Barrett Esqre / Bloomsbury / Montego Bay.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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