SD79. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Philip Scarlett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 308 (in part).
| To P. Scarlett Esqr | Coxhoe |
August 1st 1807–
My dear Sir
I have to thank you for your favors of the 13th of May and the 9th of June, and with the latter a copy of the foregoing one. I was sorry to hear of the failure of the Crops, I must however submit to necessity and hope for more propitious seasons another year. I have been informed by Boddington’s house of the arrival of 300 casks, they have indeed come to a bad market nothing can be worse, I wish I had been fortunate enough to have lost them this year. If Negroes are absolutely wanted in justice to the Properties they must be had, but your Brother whom I saw lately thinks it better to defer the purchasing of any for a time as he makes no doubt but that they will be cheap from the necessity many Planters will be under to sell, and again I should suppose if the suit in the Court of Chancery should be decreed in my favor, the Estates would not require more however of this you are the best judge and I leave it to your descretion but for God’s sake be economical as possible. I have every reason to be satisfied with the Character you give of the new Overseer upon Oxford, his good disposition and his humanity are real essentials, few of these People possess either. Your Brother thinks, as Mr H. W. Plummer goes out in Octr we had best wait till his arrival and see whether he will not settle the accounts in an amicable way, if he will not, we must apply to law to make him. I have not heard from Martin since he went to Jamaica, I hope he continues well. I have the satisfaction of informing you that I was blessed on the 26th June last with a Son he and his mother are very well, the Negroes ought I think to have a holiday and some money distributed among the Principals You will however do as you please. We have been much alarmed in consequence of a rumour of War with America but hope our differences will be adjusted in an amicable way. War with America I think would be ruinous to the West Indies. My Brother has gone abroad for a short time. I trust he will keep out of Bonaparte’s way. With Compts to Mrs S.
I am Dear Sir
Yrs most truly
E M Barrett
Publication: None traced.
Source: File copy at Eton College Library.
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