SD1057. S. Newdick to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 359 (in part).
Exeter.
Octr 13th 1839.
My dear Sam,
It has been for some time past my intention to write to you, to explain what must have appeared such extraordinary conduct on my part, in not fulfilling my promise of returning the money you were so kind as to lend me when I last saw you in town. Since that time my life has been one continued succession of misfortunes but I hope they are now coming to a close. Upon my reaching |Lucena’s| where I went on leavg town, I found he had been suddenly called in to Warwickshire, which prevented me from borrowing the money from him, & the day after I got home, in consequence of the most shameful conduct on the part of Harris, the Grocer, I was advised to leave home for a time, & so went to stay with Biscoe in the north of Devon & afterwards with a friend in Monmouthshire, till I made arrangements with Mr Lester for the disposal of the property &c at Sidmouth, & when I returned I found you had sailed. At the sale there was no bidding for any part of the property, but the furniture was disposed of & some of the debts paid. Two days after, a Mr Newman a Solicitor in Somersetshire, who had advanced money on the houses, after promising Lester to wait for a week or two to try if we could find a purchaser by private contract, had me arrested, & here I have been ever since now just 8 weeks. I am now however daily expecting to be released, as I understand that the 2 lawyers have come to terms, & intend proceeding instantly to the continent, where I shall remain till I can get some employment. My friends are looking out for me in different directions & I do not care what it is; if I do not hear of something on shore very soon, I shall return to the sea & try my luck once more there. I am however in some hopes of not only getting a situation either in this country or in Germany, but also of being repaid a large sum of money which is owing me by a Mr Gurney, of whom you may perhaps have heard from Mr Wright– He has got a contract with the Austrian Government to lay down a large quantity of Asphalte in Vienna, & he is now only waiting for some one to assist him with the needful & in a letter from Wright last week, he informs me he has a gentleman in London ready to come forward, provided he has favorable answers to some questions he has made & he is now daily expecting to hear from Vienna when if they are favorable, the speculation will be instantly commenced upon, & I have the promise of a situation in the concern & also of being gradually paid what he owes me, which will set me all straight again.
I have entered thus fully into my situation, as both Eliza & myself were afraid from our not hearing from you that you were offended at my not having fulfilled my promise, which I now trust a short time will enable me to do when I will pay it over to any one you will appoint, so pray write & let us know as soon as you can; I think your best plan will be to send under cover to Wimpole Street as they will know there where to forward it, one or other of us will however write again as soon as we are settled, when you shall know all our proceedings. at present it is our intention to go to Provens about 20 leagues from Paris, & remain there for some time. Our old Governess lives there & is anxious for us to go to her till the children know something of the language & then she will go on with us to Germany or wherever we may fix. Mrs N– & the children are all in London, & I have just heard are all well. We have been anxious about dear Tot, who we hear is very lame, & Eliza intends taking him to Travers about it previous to our leaving England–
A few days since |Mogridge| clalled [sic] to see me, when I learnt much to the surprize of the Sidmouthians he had been to London & taken his diploma as M. D. I say to the surprize of the S—s for we had known of it for some months. Fancy 5 hours examination & not a word allowed to be spoken but Latin. The other parties there are going on much as usual. The harbour (I believe) is knocked on the head, tho there are rumours of reducing the plan & making other alterations &c. all which I consider talk– Annie O’Brien’s match is entirely off, & I hear she is looking desperately ill, but I have not seen her for months. If you recollect she was engaged to a young man who was tutor in a noblemans family.
My present life is a most terrible idle one. Nothing whatever to do but read & write– We are all locked in the house at 6 o’clock & into our rooms at 9. till 6 the next morning. There is only one other gentleman here & he will remain till November when he will take the benefit of the Insolvent Act–
As I daily expect my release from this place & the mail does not leave this till Wednesday or Thursday I shall keep this open till the last in order to give you the latest news. Till then Adieu.
Octr 15th Lester has this minute left me & has told me that some of the papers necessary for my discharge have arrived & that he expects the remainder this afternoon, & so I must be ready for a start instantly. I leave for Southampton & cross to Havre & when Eliza has joined me & [illegible word] we are settled, I will write again– She desired I would send her love to you when I wrote.
I remain
Yours most sincerely
S Newdick
Address, on integral page: S. M. Barrett Esq. / Cinnamon Hill / Little River / St James’s / Jamaica.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
___________________
