SD109. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Philip Scarlett

Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 309 (in part).

Coxhoe

May 3. 1808–

My dear Sir

I sincerely thank you for your kind wish for a continuance of my domestic happiness I trust it will be perpetual. Nothing I now desire but a release from my present embarrassemnts, which I hope a few good yrs and a little economy on my part will accomplish.

I heard by the last Packet from Mr M. he seems somewhat alarmed at my determination of opposing the Masters decree and begs to know from myself, if I had given you instructions to that effect. He says the money that has been awarded to him above £6000 was for commissions which the Master thought he had a fair claim to, in the absence of all the Trustees from the Island. Now I am preatty [sic] certain these commissions in question have been already drawn for, and it cannot be expected that I should twice pay for the superintendence of my Estates for the same period. The more I look into the business the more convinced am I, that Mr P. is the most proper person to settle Mr M’s account and in fact I cannot see how or by what right the latter [illegible word] upon me, he being the Attorney of the former. However as I wish to get rid of this affair, if Mr M. will accept as a compromise £4000 you may draw upon me, making the Bills, payable, at as long dates as Mr M. will receive, at Messrs B.P.S. & Co– I mean to write by this Packet to Mr M. I shall refer him however to you for pecuniary discussions. I beg my best compts to Mrs S. And Believe me

My Dear Sir

Yrs. most truly

EMB

You may go as far as £5000 with Mr M. but pray in your next explain to me, if the commissions in question have possibly been drawn for and by whom?

Publication: None traced.

Source: File copy at Eton College Library.

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