SD45. James Scarlett to Edward Moulton-Barrett (father)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 306 (in part).
[ ]
Decr 20th 1805
My dear Barrett
I received your letter yesterday & am today favoured with one from Sam. I think there is no occasion whatever for your coming to town for the purpose you mention. We had best wait the result of your last letters to Jama If my brother is obliged to have recourse to legal measure agt R M, I fear a power from you before you are of age would not help him. I think the best way will be for you about the time you come of age to send a power to authorize some person to settle with R M & to act on your behalff [sic]. If you do not propose coming South before the Spring, I should be very glad if we could meet at York during the assizes in March, where we can then fall upon some certain plan. In the mean time we shall learn what is doing in Jama
I must beg of you to thank Sam for his letter—I never think of what is past & I have great pleasure in doing any thing in my power to contribute to his happiness & improvement. He is perfectly his own master on the subject of coming to town or staying with you. But he must let me know for certain what he intends & the very day & place where & when Mr Rham is to join him. There is no occasion for me to apply to your father on the subject tho it would be very proper for Sam to do so. I shall pay Mr Rham’s salary myself without making any deductions from the money which I understand Mr Plummer pays half yearly to Mr Moulton on Sam’s account. In doing this I of course exceed the authority given me by the Court of Chancery but I have a perfect reliance upon Sam’s honour & therefore consider myself as secure. I dare say it will be a full a fortnight before Mr Rham can be ready. Perhaps the middle of Jany may be most agreeable to both parties. I hope therefore Sam will say precisely on what day & at what place Mr R must join him. I think he will find the society of Edinburgh pleasant & the living very reasonable, & I have no doubt he may pass a year there with great satisfaction & advantage. I will give him letters to Mr Stewart & Lord Robt Seymour who are both prepared to expect him & to show him every attention[.] Thus much is for Sam.
Your friend Robert is come home from Eton in high health & spirits, much improved & having gained all the honour which the school can bestow on one of his years—that is—being sent up to the head master for excelling in his latin verses & by being promoted above the heads of many of his competitors. Mrs S joins me in best regards to Mrs Barrett & I am Dear Barrett
Yours most truly & affectly
J Scarlett
P.S. I hope you recollect that I have some of your money in my hands which may be put to your account at Rogers & Co whe<never> you like– I have not been able (tho I have made great efforts) to procure any accounts from Mr Clarke– I fancy his absence from New Castle has hitherto prevented him from answering my letters. If you should see him will you be so good as to say I should be glad to hear from him when convenient to him.
Address, on integral page: Edwd M. Barrett Esqr / Coxhoe Hall / Durham.
Docket, in the hand of EM-B (father): Decemr 20. 1805.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
___________________
