SD997. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Messrs. Anderson & Kemble
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 349 (in part).
50 Wimpole Street
April 15. 1839
Dear Sirs
I was not disappointed at your presumed failure with Mr Rd Barrett to obtain his acquiescence to get an order for directing the Commissioners of Compensation to pay the dividends in the money alloted for the Retreat & Cinnamon Hill Negroes, for when I read your letter of Decemr last, I thought that you must have a misunderstood each other, as I was sure he would never consent to such a step.
A Power of Attorney has arrived to compromise the Suit, & Terms have been tendered & accepted by me, but so long a time has elapsed since Mr Cooke the Prosecutor’s Attorney undertook to draw out the Release that I know not what to suspect. That Gentleman is undoubtedly a very respectable & honorable man, but perhaps he may have had instructions to send the Terms out to Jamaica & wait for an answer before the completion of the business between us; if I find this to be the case I shall certainly strike, & cry off & this I shall ascertain before the next Packet, when I will write to you & instruct you to proceed upon the advice of Mr Middleton which you forwarded to me in your letter of Decembr as well as petitioning the Court to be made a Party in the Suit of Dyer v Barrett for the purpose of putting in my claim to the £20,000 Legacy–
I should state they are exactly those offered in 1837 a Copy of which I sent out for my lamented Brother to see, & which my Son shewed you; the possession of the Negroes from the altered state of things being excluded. They are bad terms, for by them my opponents are quickly possessed of at least £10 to 12,000, but peace of mind was worth a pecuniary sacrifice, & I have made it I believe wisely, at the same time, I am determined not to be circumvented by any trick of theirs– I observe that you say Mr Land told you that another Power of Attorney had been sent implying that the last had been a former one which I never heard of, for when terms were formerly offered, I asked had they authority to complete the business should I enter upon it, when their Attorney admitted they had none—to which of course my reply was get a Power & I will them talk with them–
I am, Dear Sirs
Yrs truly
EMB
Best regards to your Mr Anderson & tell him I received his letter for which I thank him & that I will take an early opportunity of answering it–
Publication: None traced.
Source: File copy at Eton College Library.
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