SD1024. Edward Moulton-Barrett (brother) to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 356 (in part).
Beacon Terrace
Augst 16th 1839–
My dear Sam
I suppose before this, you & Storm are safely landed in the country of heat & hogsheads– I hope the next packet will bring us certain information of that event, as we are waiting with great impatience to hear what impressions cocoanut trees, sugar canes, black crabs, black faces &c &c have made upon your fellow voyager’s susceptible feelings– I received your letter written off Falmouth, & have since heard though indirectly of your arrival in Madeira[.] I hope that the winds & the waves have been kind to you during your voyage, & that the tropical sun & rum & water will treat you with equal consideration till we see you both again– I fear you have found matters in no very satisfactory condition, although I am scarcely inclined to believe that things are in so as bad a plight as they are represented to be in by letters writers with you, & believe to be in by letters readers with us– My confidence in the ultimate well doing of West Indian properties is not shaken by any difficulties which proprietors have yet had to contend with, which were indeed to have been expected as the necessary first fruits of so great a change– For a manager of active mind & plenty of resources in himself, there cannot I think be a more favorable opportunity for distinguishing himself & procuring attorneyships, for after all the success of properties will depend more upon individual management, than upon any lesgislative [sic] enactments that can be made– You must have been much surprised to hear upon your arrival of the death of Richd Barrett, I have not quite made up my mind whther to consider this as a happy event as far as the public interests are concerned, if he could have been brought to separate personal pique against the government from his public duties, his unquestionable talents, practical experience, & great influence among the planters, might have made him a most useful member of your society– The new Governor might perhaps have effected this– However this might have been, I don’t suppose that any strong personal attachment which Sam may have felt towards him, will interfere much with his satisfaction at being so suddenly placed in such improved circumstamces—of this I am sincerely glad. But now you will be anxious to hear how we have been going on here since your departure– Our dear Ba, although I cannot report any very material change for the better, is I think certainly stronger than when you left us, & bears her excursions upon the water (which are as frequent as the weather will permit,) with less fatigue to herself– George is now staying with us during his vacation, & on Monday next I go by the Steamer to Southampton to meet Arabel, (who comes from London by the rail <roa>d,) & to convey her here– As for our <occu>pations gaiety, which has been at a low ebb du<ring> the summer much to Henrietta’s dissatisfaction is beginning to revive, the Regatta patronized by the Queen & its attendant ball are to take place next week, & summer visitors are coming in– I am very industriously engaged in spreading a box of water colours, (a present from Ba) over a certain quantity of drawing paper, & this goes by the dignified name of painting– Henrietta sings a little, works in worsted a little, writes letters in tolerable quantities & visits a good deal. George walks about admiring the country, talks as much as a lawyer ought to do, & reads “Chitty on evidence” or some such work of the imagination in the way of recreation. Mind you see old Charley as much as you can particularly at first, for I am afraid he will find it a sad dull solitary kind of existence until he is settled & interested in some degree in his occupation– Make him wear a Panama expose himself as little as possible to the night air which is ten times more dangerous than the meridian hours of the sun, & above all eschew rum & water as much as the weakness of his nature will permit– Tell him to not upon any account as he values “beautiful days & quiet nights” to scratch the bites inflicted by the Mosquitoes—if he can help it– I dont know if Henta delivered a message begging you to send me a plant or two of the large kind of “semper vivum[”] or air plant, let me have them if you can by an early ship, they are for a friend of mine here–
If too you should have a skin or two of any (the commonest) birds to spare I shall be very glad to present them to my friend Clarke who has lately commenced a museum of birds, & is as greedy as a hawk after tom tits, black birds, yellow hammers & other small game. A good large John Crow would be a feast his soul would gloat upon with unspeakable exstacy [sic]– I have no time to write more for I have almost let slip to opportunity of writing to you by this packet in consequence of a mistake about the Falmouth mail– So good bye my dear Sam & Storm & may God bless you– Ba, Henrietta, George, & Bell join with me in wishing you health & happiness whilst you remain in Jamaica & success in your occupations to bring you back amongst us readily & rich– Till which time believe me to remain
yours affectionately
Bro–
Hamilton has got his commission in the 62nd Regmt[—]he does not seem so well pleased as might be expected. I suppose he had rather enter the holy state of wedlock than the bloody profession of war. Write soon & full particulars as to the state of affairs.
Address, on integral page: S. M. Barrett Esqre / Cinnamon Hill / Little River P.O. / St. James’s / Jamaica.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
___________________
