SD812. Samuel Hilton to Edward Moulton-Barrett (father)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 332 (in part).
Anfield Villa
9th Octbr 1836
Edward B. M. Barrett Esqr
My Dear Sir
I have received your favor of the 5th Ulto and note the contents with some degree of Surprise and pain[.] I trust that my reply will remove the eronious [sic] impressions which you appear to entertain[.]
You ask me in the first place why I did not repay myself when in possession of funds: The unfavorable aspect of your West India Affairs, and my earnest expectations that the Chancery Suit would turn in your favor are the only reasons I can assign for leaving the balance against myself. You also ask me why I have suffered Ten years to elapse without any Communication with you on the subject. My reply to this is that since my return to England I have been unable to make any demand upon you, not being in possession of the accounts, altho I made repeated applications to Mr Reeves for them and when the[y] were at length procured at the personal instance of Mr Wm Cliff |Junr| I lost no time in forwarding them to you– You state in the next that I enjoyed a greater income from the property than you did yourself, to this I can only say that was Caused by circumstances over which I had no control[—]you recol[l]ect that I most reluctantly broke up my establishment and left England at your request and upon your own terms under these circumstances you must be aware that the proposal to reduce my Salary the neglect of which you seem to regret would have caused me to tender my resignation a step which as it was I was only with[h]eld from taking by the high regard I had for you and your family for proof of which I beg to refer to my repeated Letters requesting that either you or your Brother would supersede me[.]
With respect to any unpleasant Collision with your Brother, I beg to say that I was no party to it– Mr Reeves wrote to me for authority to proceed against him but I at once forbid all applications of that sort, I never will appeal to it, but will leave the matter in your own hands as however you have alluded to a third person a most respectable man and a mutual friend I shall have no objections whatever to commit the busyness to Mr Cliff and abide his decision–
I am glad to hear that your affairs in Jamaica are proceeding more favorably for you and I congratulate you upon what I consider a fair average Crop[.] I understand that in St James of Trelawny the[y] have fall[e]n off one third of last year the Sea side estates have done much better than the mountain your Brothers I am glad to hear as done well, I shall be glad to hear that you and your family are all in good health and I pray the giver of all good may continue the same, to whom I beg my most sincear [sic] Respects and conclude
My Dear Sir
Your ever obliged Sert
Sam Hilton.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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