SD87. James Scarlett to Edward Moulton-Barrett (father)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 308 (in part).
Temple
Novr 14th 1807
My dear Barrett
I have this moment reced your letter & As I may not have another opportunity soon I write immediately in answer. As you ask my advice upon the subject I should have no hesitation after what has passed in writing such a letter to my brother as you mention respecting the shipment of your crops or any part of them to New Castle. The best way to be always on good terms with a near connection is to have no money to receive from them or to pay them. Strangers do not take offence at the enforcement of a just right—nor do they take such liberties in witholding it.
Moore sent me your letter about Barker & I have told him you will be satisfied with any terms he may enter into for your interest relying upon his discretion that you shall suffer the least possible by Mr. Barker’s ungracious conduct.
Your mothers annuity ought to be paid by a bill drawn in Jama upon the 28 day of Novr[.] I think that was the day your grandfather died. This bill would be at the least at 90 days sight upon which according to the court of the Island, you would have a right to deduct the current premium which is at least 7 1/2 p cent & sometimes 8 or 10– Supposing it to be 8 p cent her annuity would then not be payable allowing two months for the bill coming home till 5 months after the date which would be in April—and the amount of it then would be but 920l– Now considering that you pay it to her in England without deducting any premium I think she might be inclined if she rightly understood the subject, to give you some little accommodation. I must not however undertake to explain it to her, as you know I have been already unfortunate in that way. But I think you had best inform her that you will direct my brother to draw a bill for her annuity the very day it becomes due, & that if he has not done so this year, you will have it paid to her exactly in the same way as if he had done so. This will most likely induce her to apply <to me> for an explanation & then I will tell her how the matter stands & what I think she ought to do for her own interest as well as your convenience.
The accounts are indeed horrible. R M had the estates from July 1803 to feby. 1806—2 years and a half– I find by a list sent me by Plummer & Barham (which I shall send to my brother) that in that time he & old Plummer drew bills to the amount of £12306.14.2 of this £9172.14.2 was paid—& for the remainder he took a considerable portion of the crops of 1805 & 1806—& besides this there shd be due to him upon the whole concern, (that is of Sam’s property at Retreat & Falmouth, as well as yours at Cambridge & Oxford) 11500 |Stg.| equal to 8200 Stg. It will follow that without buying a single slave or undertaking any extraordinary work, of any kind, the mere ordinary contingencies of these estates amount to £20500 in two crops (for he paid none of the contingencies of 1806)—or to 10250 p[er] an[num]– This is poor consolation—but to speak out it is downright fraud—but pretty much what I expected from the manner in which he kept the Estates & the object with which I know he desired to have them. The only thing which puzzles me is how he could have so large a sum to spare as he now pretends is due to him. We could not expend the money without having it—& if he had it why was it not applied to pay his creditors. I am really quite shocked at the whole business. I conclude the master has allowed him all the commissions to make out the [illegible word]—but as I think he is clearly intitled to no more than Plummers proportion & not even to that after he opposed the trustees I am in hopes his balance will be greatly reduced– You must know he is a great lumber merchant—and therefore the framing upon the wharf seem to have cost about 2000l a year in repairs—& so on the Retreat Penn I am informed by Mr. Hilton that <he> built a hot house—that might be taken for a palace.
I shall speak to Sharp about Mr Clarkes accounts– I think in answer to what he has mentioned to you, it would be right to say that you have nothing to do with the part of the crop he reced. made before you were of age—that is last years & that it must be remitted to me unless I consent to have it put off agt his clain upon you. In the mean time I shall proceed to make Sharp pester him with letters (which however he will not answer)– I am my dear Barrett, with best regards to Mrs Barrett
Yours most truly
J Scarlett
Address, on integral page: Edwd M. Barrett Esqr / Coxhoe Hall / Durham.
Docket, in the hand of EM-B (father): Novr 14 1807.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
___________________
