SD46. James Scarlett to Edward Moulton-Barrett (father)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 306 (in part).
[ ]
[Postmark: 28 January 1806]
My dear Barrett
I am but just returned from Manchester or I should have acknowledged your letter sooner. I am not surprized at your Uncles letter. He has passed the Rubicon. His object has all along been to throw your property into his own & your fathers hands, & he will not be scrupulous about the means. I do not believe that any Counsel whose opinion is worth a farthing would upon a true statement of the <case> give him the least encouragement. But his letter satisf<ies> me of the truth of a report which I have heard, which is that he admits that your power as a minor is a nullity, but says he has a power from your father as your guardian by virtue of which he will hold the estates agt the trustees. Your grandfather has been very unfortunate in his plans if they are so ill concerted as to give your father the controul over your fortune. But the whole pretence is frivolous & absurd & I will mention some facts when we meet at York which will shew you what the honesty of this business is. In the mean time the question is what is to be done? Plummer is gone to Jama He will perhaps interfere. But I am inclined to think that as your Uncle has (contrary to his solemn promise in writing both to you & to the trustees) set up your power of attorney as a minor against the trustees, so that he will for the same grand object, set up your fathers power against yours if you send one to my brother before you are of age. I think therefore your best plan is to write him a moderate letter pledging yourself to nothing when you come of age, but expressing your concern that you were ever prevailed upon to take the step you did in sending a power of attorney <whi>ch you find has been made use of against your positive desire, & insisting that you shall expect that whoever holds your estates will send the whole bills of lading for the crop to me, as you are not willing to shew any appearance of not confiding in me & shall wait till you are of age before you determine how to act in future. You may say that you hope he has complied with your request of giving up the estates to my brother, but that if he has not you must insist upon the shipments being made to me as before, until you have made your arrangements when you come of age, at which time you shall consider how you ought to act. This will perhaps prevent his adopting the fatal measure of sending the present crop to your father (which I know is his intention) lest he should offend you past recall, & if he complies with your request the bills of lading when they arrive will be at your disposal. As soon as you are of age you should send a power of attorney to my brother to authorize him to settle all your Uncles accounts at once, & then you will have leisure to consider whether you shd renew your power to your Uncle. I think I am bound to tell you that it is a measure which may be attended with danger, but I am far from wishing to excite any prejudice agt your Uncle. You must judge of him, by what you know of his conduct & what you believe of his views, & if you think it prudent to trust him I shall not oppose it. For the present however I must own that I think you are in a scrape which he is not inclined to help you out of, & I only wish that the matter may be so terminated as not to prove to a demonstration that you ought not to trust him again.
Sam is in town & I hope in a few days to dispatch him & Mr Rham to Edinburgh. I cannot get the accounts from Mr Clarke, which is a great inconvenience to me. Remember me most kindly to Mrs Barrett to whom Mrs Scarlett begs also to be remembered & believe me My dr Barrett Ever your most affy–
J Stt
Can you procure any votes at Cambridge for Ld Henry Pety? Only Master of Arts can vote–
Address, on integral page: Edward M. Barrett, Esqr / Coxhoe Hall / near / Durham.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
___________________
