SD1155. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Adam Cliff

Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 5, 378 (in part).

50 Wimpole Street

May 22. 1841

Dear Sir

I thank you for your letter communicating the present position of the Suit in Chancery as connected with the late Mr Thompson’s Estate–

You may remember that I was unwillingly made a Party to such Suit, in ignorance I was drawn into it, & from perhaps the dul[l]ness of my apprehension, I confess, that I have not yet even attained the clearest view of its proceedings, but I am informed by my Solicitor, who has taken <great> pains with it, that there <will be no> surplus after paying the debts & legacies, & consequently there is nothing for me. It appears that altogether <th>e personal property, including Simpson’s Mor[t]gage does not exceed in round numbers £66,000, & the debts being somewhere about £24,000, a balance is left of only £42,000; thus there is not even a sufficiency to meet the Legacies, & consequently there can be no residue of personal Estate, in which alone I am interested under Mrs Thompson’s Will–

It certainly is somewhat surprising <th>at <Mr> Thompson should have <incurred so> large a debt, whilst he was lending large sums to others, but this is one among the many contradictions of our nature–

I had been told that some arrangement was making for the purpose of getting possession of the Estates by raising the necessary amount to clear off the incumbrances on them, & I am informed such being done that the trust would be at an end as regards them—but the fact being that after all there would be no residue made it impossible for me to interfere–

I am, dear Sir

Yrs truly

E M Barrett.

Adam Cliff Esqre

Publication: None traced.

Source: File copy at Eton College Library.

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