SD969. Hope Masterton Waddell to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 343 (in part).
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[?1839]
My dear Sir
I received your favour of the 9th inst. enclosing £5 to add to the collection in the church on behalf of the Edinburgh Deaf & Dumb Institution & I beg you to accept my acknowledgements for the Same.
I think I may recommend Mr Scott the Teacher of Mount Zion School as a very proper person to take charge of the instruction of the Africans on Cinnamon Hill and Spring estates; indeed as the properest person both on account of his qualifications, & of his being engaged in teaching them every Lord’s day when they come to church. He will visit those on Cinnamon Hill two evenings every week at 4 Oclock & those on Spring two evenings at the Same hour and continue till 6 or 7 o’clock[.] The instruction should consist in the first instance of reading & speaking the English language, the principles of religion in their simplest form, the practice of morality & relative duties. It were better not to Speak of baptism to them just now lest they become impatient for it from Some Superstitious notion & get vexed if it be withheld. It will have its more proper place by & by if it please God to Spare them & to enable them to understand, believe & obey our holy religion. As this work will constitute a considerable amount of labour additional to the duties of the Day School &c for which more immediately he was Sent out to the country I cannot require it of him beyond his own will, though I am happy to add that he is very willing & zealous to do anything in his power for the glory of God & the good of his fellow creatures. You expressed yourself willing to pay Something towards the Salary of the person employed in this duty. Mr Scott’s Salary is not equal to what I recommended our Society in Edinburgh to make it & I can feel no hesitation in Saying that an addition to it is necessary & will be acceptable.
If it be convenient to you Mr S will wait on you to morrow evening to make whatever arrangements you may think necessary.
I am Dear Sir
Yours respectfully
H. M. Waddell
P.S.
The instruction of the Africans on Cornwall will be attended to by Mrs W. & myself; and the only thing I request on their behalf or require is that an apartment may be partitioned off & floored in the under part of our house at Cornwall for meeting them in as it is by no means always convenient for them to assemble in our own hall. This may be done very easily and cheaply by rough joists from the pasture & white pine boards, which in such a dry situation will last many years.
Address, on integral page: For / S M Barrett Esqr / Cinnamon Hill.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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