SD55. James Scarlett to Edward Moulton-Barrett (father)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 306 (in part).
Carlisle
Augt 11th 1806
My dear Barrett
I have written to Sharp to desire the second thousand to be paid to Rogers on your account & to beg that he would confirm you by letter as soon as it is done. I said you would want it in a few days; you will therefore probably hear from him this week.
I am very sorry I could not stay to see you at New Castle, altho’ I dont know that I had any thing particular to say to you. My last letter from my brother mentions that your Estate will make 600 hhds[.] Then I am afraid you cannot estimate according to the present prices at more than 20l p. hhd, which makes 12,000l from this you must deduct for Supplies from England & Ireland probably (to come within the mark of former years) 3000l for bills to be drawn from Jamaica say 2000 (I hope less, but this will be not half so much as hitherto)– This makes 5000. Add to this 1000l for your Mothers Annuity & you will have 6000l left out of the 12000– I fear this will be an outside reckoning, but we will take it at 6000—& call that sum your income from your Jamaica Estates for the current year– Now of this you must consider yourself as having anticipated 2000l which you have had from Boddn & Sharp, therefore you will have 4000 left & 1000 more from the funds make 5000 to last till autumn of next year—before which time you cannot well expect to get cash for any of next years Sugars. I think this with a little management will be ample to keep matters together—but I doubt a little whether there will be much left to pay old debts– We must therefore take care not to anticipate next years income if it can be avoided. Your money in the funds at the present prices is worth 23700l of which I am ready whenever you please to transfer to you all but 10000, which as I have often told you must be kept for one of Mrs Williams sons, till he comes of age. If there should be peace I hope the stock will be worth 2000l more. Now as you are not disposed to sell any of this out would it not be better to assign it to some person (say Sharp) as a security—for his accepting long bills to pay your tradesmen– If these bills can be paid out of the crops as they are sold, so much the better; if not, the security is available & no person will be in advance for you. Mr. Moon informed me before I left town that he should be able to make much better terms with the tradespeople if he could give them some kind of security & suggested what I have mentioned as the most easy & practicable. Pray consider this a little and as the Spring is a very busy time of the year I should wish very much that you could spare a week of idle time just before or just after Xmas to come up to town & put the finish to all our important affairs. If you will put up with my accommodation you know I have a bed for you in Guilford Street, & by being together we can in two or three days do a month’s work. I expected to have seen you at the ball Wednesday & went for the purpose altho, I suspect I had rather too much wine to dance in my best manner. We have a immensity of business here & I have had & still have so much to get through that I wonder how I have contrived to write you so long a letter. With best regards to Mrs Barrett believe me My Dr Barrett
Ever yours most truly
J Scarlett
Address, on integral page: Edwd M. Barrett Esqr / Coxhoe Hall / Durham.
Docket, in the hand of EM-B (father): 11 August 1806.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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