SD1108. Samuel Moulton-Barrett (brother) to John Altham Graham-Clarke
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 364 (in part).
[Jamaica]
Jany 27. 1840
My dear uncle John
I have abstained from writing you since my visit to your property H Hall as I was in daily expectation of hearing from Mr Atkinson on the subject[—]his having now however arrived in the country & having resumed the management of your Estates, I can do no more than give you all the information I have obtained without interfering with your attorneys. I went over your pen & spent two days there, it certainly is a very fine property & capable of doing great things, but I fear only in the way of breeding & fattening horned stock, breeding Mules & horses & cutting a good deal of logwood which abounds there to some extent. There is one glade of land I should suppose about 20 Acres that I feel sure would grow coffee, but they suffer so severely in that district from dry weather occasionally that I should be almost afraid to incur any outlay especially at this moment it certainly is however a most valuable pen, but when I went there not a pasture was clean—& the people not working on the property. I was not long enough there to be enabled to attribute this apparent neglect to any cause & cannot help thinking that Mr Huttons deputy much neglects his business in fact where there are so many responsible parties none of them hold themselves accountable. I would say however with reference to this pen do not sell. I should recommend your negro houses being repaired instanter or your people will leave you. I should then decidedly commence charging rent it is done on all pens & ought to be established on yours for if they wont work you always have the rent as an offset[.] Your breed of Stock there are small but I understand very hardy[,] your mules are very large & I should say the property is not much understocked. Mount Tirzah I have not yet seen I think however it would be advisable to sell it in lots as it is a perfect ruinate having been completely neglected.
When I have full information to give with reference to the sums owing you it will give me much pleasure to forward you the earliest information.
The negroes with me are working well & I am glad to say on my fathers properties I have every prospect of good Crops. In fact a general improvement has taken place thoughout the country since the arrival of our new Governor. I forgot to mention that on W Hall land has been purchased for provision grounds to the amount of £3 or 400 & it [is] on this land I propose planting your coffee. If you sell Mount Tirzah in Toto any party who purchases from you pays half the expence of Surveying so that on that head your expences will not be great but bear in mind your atty charges 6 P Cent on all sales. I should therefore advise your immediately putting him on salary if he remains on the property. It appears to me that your decrease of profit on Mt Tirzah is solely attributable to all the labour during the period of apprenticeship being jobbed off to neighbouring property at the expence of that property & I must say in a most objectionable manner. When I hear from Atkinson I will immediately go & see that place, & report my opinion by the following packet.
with best love &c
S M Barrett
J. G. Clarke Esq
Wrote to James Clarke about Receivership—also to George about Mill & Mr Waddells rents of [illegible word]
Jany. 28th 1840–
Publication: None traced.
Source: File copy at Eton College Library.
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