SD1089. Edward George Barrett to George Goodin Barrett (1792-1854)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 362 (in part).
Dixon House, Moneague
Decr 18. 1839
Dear Papa
Nothing particular has occured since my last letter, Albion is getting on, & if you receive this letter, will be ready for your reception, its great fault is that the drawing room & dining room are very dark, but the bedroom & piazza are delightful, & there is an excellent tank, Sam is still at Spanish Town attending to his duties in the house of Assembly But I think that the house will soon be finished and then I suppose he will go to Greenwood[.] He says he does not find that Union agrees with him, I had a letter from Uncle John [Turner] [1] the other day in which he says that he does not think that you will be able to come out before the Spring I hope that is not the case I expect you every day here. Pray bring out some books you will find a great lack of them here. Monk and I are trying hard to get a poultry yard by the time you come out, but I do not think we get on very fast; it costs too much; We have no bake house down here, so we are obliged to make cocoes & yams do instead, the people here call them “bread kind” and they make a tolerable substitute, We are very badly off for books I have read all those that we have here, & we can get no others & Sam seems so very averse to my having any from Greenwood, although he never reads a book by any chance himself. I hope you will come out as soon as possible, for the Penns are going on very badly for Sam sends no money at all to pay for work, he takes good care to send as much money as can be spent to his property Barrett Hall, & he told the Overseer there to spare no expense, the Overseer here can get nothing done for want of money, the carpenter who contracted to repair Albion was to have had 3£ a week, but he has had nothing it is impossible for any property to be carried on under these circumstances, with any advantage, in fact while Sam remains in Jamaica, it is my firm opinion that the properties instead of getting out of debt, will only be more involved, I should recommend Sam’s accounts to be strictly examined, for I am pretty sure he will take any advantage he can from this situation, whether fair or the contrary. I have no more to say. Monk is quite well & sends his best love, pray give mine to Aunt & My <…>
& Believe me dear Papa
Yr affectionate Son
E G Barrett
Address, on integral page: Captn Barrett / Milverton Lodge / Leamington / Warwickshire.
Docket, in the hand of Edward Alfred Moulton-Barrett: Retained as a record after way in which “Sam Barrett” behaved in respect of the properties that were not coming to him under Richard Barrett’s will. EAMB. 10/xii/07.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
1. Identified by note on manuscript in Edward Alfred Moulton-Barrett’s hand: “‘John Turner” uncle on mother’s side.”
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