SD44. James Scarlett to Edward Moulton-Barrett (father)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 306 (in part).
Temple
Dec 13th 1805
My dear Barrett
I have reced. a letter from Jones informing me that there is a gentleman, called Rham, of great reputation & very amiable manners at Cambridge, who is going or would have no objection to go to Edinburgh. He is a particular friend of Mr Stewart & Jones thinks him an excellent person to go with your brother. Now will you be so good as to mention this to Sam & to desire him to write to me stating distinctly whether he still keeps to his mind on this subject & if so at what time he will be ready to go to Edinburgh & whether he authorizes me to make any engagement with the gentleman. If I should receive such an answer from Sam as to induce me to make the engagement I will then inform the gentleman that he must be ready soon after the holidays (indeed at any time your brother will fix) to join him either at your house or New Castle, as Sam pleases & to proceed from thence to Edinbgh In the meantime I can write to Mr. Stewart to request he will have the goodness to make some inquiries against their arrival, for a fit lodging for them. Let me beg you to urge Sam to an early answer that I may not keep this Mr Rham in suspense.
You ask me in your letter if I have heard whether your Uncle has given up your Estates. My brother informs me that he has never been able to obtain a sight of him. He avoids meeting him or coming to any explanation of his intentions[.] In the mean time I understand that he has indorsed the bills of lading for your crop to London over to your father unless Mr Plummer will consent to pay the very heavy bills which he has drawn & continues to draw. The consequence of this is that he will throw the value of the consignments & perhaps more into your fathers hands, and as Plummer cannot help himself by objecting to the accounts it will remain for you by & by to settle your Uncles account & to get your money from your father. I always believed that this was the real object in view. Nor do I know how it can be remedied. My brother is proceeding in Ch<a>ncery to compel your Uncle to give up the Estates, but all legal measures are slow, whereas force & fraud are prompt & choose their own time. Plummer has applied to me to know if I will accept some bills just arrived of this sort to the amount of 3100l your Uncle having valued the Sugars at 28l phhd—at least 6l more than they are worth. I have returned for answer that I cannot interfere, much less give my sanction to your Uncles Conduct in assuming to himself to indorse bills of lading to the disposition of which he had not even the colour of a right. I am determined that you shall have secured to you at least that has come to my hands. For the rest I cannot answer. Perhaps you may be able to give me a meeting at the York assizes next March when we will lay our heads together & determine what you had best do to avoid being exposed to similar consequences in future. I have written to my brother in consequence of what you said to me, to ask if he will consent to act as your Attorney when you come of age. I really do not know of any other person in Jamaica in whom I think you can confide. I believe I informed you that your father received some consignments from a Mr |Attem| which he was to pay me on account of your grandfathers Estate. The amount ought to have been paid last Spring. He however put me off until the summer & then gave me a bill of 800l due in October & made payable at his bankers. This bill I discounted with my bankers. When it became due payment was refused both by your fathers bankers & himself, but he said he expected remittances by the packet & would then pay the bill. On the arrival of the packet my bankers made application and received the answer which I now inclose to you. From this answer you will see that your fathers credit seems to depend on his getting your funds or at least what must appear to be such until we know what right R M has to draw bill for 3100l in addition to 6000l he has already drawn on Plummer in your fathers favor. Be so good as to send me back the inclosed (which I received today from the bankers) & to keep to yourself my communication. I think it my duty towards you to put you on your guard & I owe it to myself to shew you that I do not speak from conjecture. With best regard to Mrs B. I am dear Barrett yours very truly
J Sctt
Address, on integral page: Edward M. Barrett Esqr / Coxhoe Hall / Durham.
Docket, in the hand of EM-B (father): December 13, 1805.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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