SD47. James Scarlett to Edward Moulton-Barrett (father)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 306 (in part).
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Feby 1806
My dear Barrett
Inclosed is a letter which my brother not knowing your address has requested me to forward to you. He has given me an account of the event of your letter to R Moulton which I presume the inclosed will also inform you of. He says (what I own I always thought probable) that your Uncle will keep the estates under pretence of closing his accounts. I will give you an extract from his letter—He says that after sending your letter your Uncle’s answer to him was nearly in these words “Sir, the letter you have inclosed I could easily have expected. Its contents as well as yours shall be instantly complied with as soon as my accounts are made up & closed about which there shall be no delay on my part”– My brother goes on thus “this letter met me at Falmouth in my way to Spa. Town. Charles Evans was with me & I requested him to call & make the proposal of paying him immediately whatever was due to him if he would deliver up the Estates & Retreat Penn. His answer was that he must consult his own dignity & that he would not deliver up the possession of the Estates or Penn till he had closed his accounts. Upon his being pressed to say whether that would be before or after Christmas he would give no other answer than that there should be no delay on his part”– My brother says that he knows nothing of the management of the Estates except from report which says that they are extravagantly managed & that there has been a immense loss of stock, that is of mules or steers. My opinions is as it always was that he will keep the Estates as long as he can & that he will make out a swinging account in which he will charge you with Commissions as your attorney & with many other heavy items which will require great consideration before they are settled & that he will refuse the possession of the Estates until a bill is drawn to pay all his demands. I hope to meet you next month at York & we will then arrange what is to be done. I shall be there on Monday the 10th March & remain for a week or 10 days. We must get you out of the scrape as well as we can, but there is no help for what is past, it is useless to be uneasy about it. I fear your Estates will not afford you much for the last & present year beyond the expenses, & I am very glad that I have been able whilst I had anything to do with them to save something for you. Your mother & Sam must be now with you. Mr Rham is following. Remember me kindly to them & to Mrs Barrett & believe me My dear Barrett
Ever yours most truly
J Scarlett
Address, on integral page: Edward M. Barrett Esqr / Coxhoe Hall / near Durham.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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