SD1086. Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother) to Edward Moulton-Barrett (father)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 362 (in part).
Cin. Hill
Dec. 10th 1839
My dear Father
I have only time to write you a few lines and have just returned from St Elizabeths where I have been to purchase mules & cattle, they being much cheaper there than on this side of the Island, of the former I purchased 20 at £25 each cash price, for which I have been obliged to draw on you for £300 Stg favr G & R Dewar at 90 days 22 P.C. premium: might have purd them for £27.10 payable in six months, but bills being now high & a reduction of £2.10 per head for cash, I thought you would much prefer saving this exorbitant Interest. This quantity were required as 2 1/2 [illegible word] of mares in foal have been dropped off from Cornwall mile & sent to Retreat. I also purd from Shuttlewood “Ld Seaford & Ba“ 20 [illegible word] of Steers 21 of heifers payable in 6 months the former at £16 the latter at £14 per head, your Retreat Stock were sold fortunately for £20 & £18 previous to this reduction in price payable 6 months will become due in sufficient time to meet this outlay. Our fine seasons on this side of the Island have not yet ceased, while on the South side they are completely parched up, having had no rain for 6 weeks; on my journey round I stopped a night at Uncle Johns Pen, it is certainly a fine Property & not much under stocked but not a single Pasture in Even respectable order– Here & at Cornwall I am getting our grass Pse cleaned, working out road allotments, & repairing L.R.W. which has been much damaged by the late floods, our people are continuing to work well, & if the rain holds up I intend cutting immediately after Christmas about 12 acres of Plant canes, the crop begins about the 3dweek in Jny. As you will be anxious to know what crop expenses are likely to be, I will at the commencement ford you a copy of any arrangements. Mr Waddell has declined giving £80 a year for Corn. House, he has however offered £60 provided I thoroughly repair it, the carpenter has been to look at it, & states the roof is not in a very safe state & requires bracing up: When I meet Mr Carey I shall ford him an answer. I have not heard from Retreat lately as Mr Carey receives all the returns, & I must give my horses a rest before proceeding further. The salt fish shop is getting very popular, & I am glad to say since its establishment no silver has been purchased. The Colonial Bank is buying up all the Silver at 4 P.cent in order, I suppose, to raise the Premium on silver during crop, this is really a crying Evil & a serious injury to the Planter, silver is I hear already 5 & 6 P.cent: Porter is an article I sell more of than any thing else at 1s St a bottle. Sir Jos. I heard from yesterday who asked me to Town to meet the Governor I have however declined it: He appears to have got into hot water with the ed. of a paper attending to Clerk &c.–
There are various rumours as to Rd Barretts Estate some say he only owes £25,000, others much more, but Sir Jos Rowes says the general opinion is that all his personal property must be sold & even that wont cover his debts I fear Sam & Capt Barrett will be disappointed. The former & family are in Town & quite well[.]
Affy Yr.
S M Barrett
E. M. Barrett Esq–
Publication: None traced.
Source: File copy at Eton College Library.
___________________
