SD324. Robert Dewar to Elizabeth Barrett Williams
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 321 (in part).
Glasgow
27. Decr 1819.
My Dear Madame
Before I answered your esteemed letter I thought it Necessary to go to Edinburgh for the purpose of investigating Mr Edwards Conduct and am Sorry to inform you that his application to you for money was for the avowed purpose of being without restraint and that at the Very Moment when his conduct precludes the propriety had you been Every [sic] so willing– I cannot help remarking to you that I consider Edward now beyond all chance of being reclaimed– He had got so Completely the better of Mr Gray as to bring in Company to his home and play cards until three oClock in the morning and when spoken to left the house under pretence of his having had a dispute with Mr Grays Son– I offered to go with him to Mr Grays and have the business investigated with the idea of his returning this he perem[p]torily refused and altho I appointed a Meeting & afterwards sent for him—he never Came near Me[.] I then consulted with Mr Maca[r]tney what was best to be done and he found out a Doctor Graham from Jamaica who was willing to take him in as a boarder as well as forward him in the line of his intended profession– He would not go there nor will he Study Medecine in fact he long since give a whirl of that and I wrote out to his father on the subject as well as complaining of the Extravagance of the Young Man– It appears he has run himself in debt when ever he Could get credit in most instances for things he had not the smallest occasion £50 odd for Books & £17 for Silk Stockings £12 for Cutlery besides Many others–
Edwards Company I found to be Such as to Make it absolutely Necessary that he should come into my proposals—otherwise he was to have no Money for he has been so wicked as to contemplate joining the Players at NewCastle with the malicious and false assertion that its to revenge himself of me—and for what because (I suppose) I do not Consent to his Keeping bad Company, spending Money improperly and in truth for doing all in my power to save him from ultimate ruin– His Boarding Bill has been Regularly paid he has been Supplied with Every necessary a Young Man can possibly want and 2/6 a week pocket money allowed w<hich> I dare say you will think Enough. Both Mr Gray & Mr Macartney have done all in their power. the latter offered to pay up Edwds lodging money &c if he would return to his duty therefore I have now no alternative–
Please receive Mr [illegible name] Bill for |Heggen Whitely & Co| for balance of rent £62.4.4—— Mrs Dewar joins me in a tender of respects I am My Dear Madam
Yours Very truly
R Dewar
Address, on integral page: Mrs Elizabeth Barrett Williams / No 75 Gloster Place / Portman Square / London.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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