SD839. William Tinkler to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (uncle)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 335 (in part).
Cinnamon Hill
November 28. 1837
Sir
I have not your letter book, to refer to the 14th of August but I have Mr Chambers letter of the 21st in which he acknowledges the receipt of it, & adds “I am sorry that Mr Barrett declines the offer I have made for renting the wharf”,– Your letters again were sent to Montego Bay & only arrived here late yesterday evening. I have this morning written fully to Mr Farquharson & Mr Chambers all that you desired me to say to them & it has taken so much of the day that I must wait on Mr Dewar tomorrow morning, when if I receive the money for the Rum, I will immediately lodge it in the Bank and forward you the receipt by next post. Mr Dewar engaged to pay for it in Six weeks, or as much sooner as he could, when he stated that he would forward the money, or a Bank receipt, directly to yourself in Spanish Town, consequently I could not with propriety apply to him until I heard from you.– I have not heard from Mr Tenison, & as he promised to let me know when he was ready to pay for the Titles, I did not think it of any use to teaze him with repeated applications.– I will visit him this week & endeavour to come to a decided understanding with him. When he will be ready to pay for the Titles, or whether from inability to do so, he will compel you to cancel them, & dispose of the land to the next applicant. The swamp for which Mr Tharp & Mr Hardy offered you £30 pr lot was so completely covered with water in the late heavy weather, that a moderate sized canoe might have sailed upon it. I do not think you will ever get a better offer unless their improvements should induce some wealthy person to speculate, & even then the expence of filling up will be so great, that little more could be expected, unless a very general rise should take place in the value of Town lots.–
The First Gang at Cornwall were employed in clearing Long pasture Second Do trashing Sunday piece & Third Gang on Pimento pieces the weather slightly variable, chiefly dry. The thermometer has been so low at 68o. The arrows are in full bloom & I have examined the cane piece carefully. I am sure I see half my estimate already formed. & the younger pieces, Supplies, & plants, which will not, arrow, & have some of them 6 or 7 months to grow, will surely make the other half: in 1834 Cornwall made 84 Hogshead, & I have not seen it in better order than it is now. I am sorry to hear that the apprentices in Manchester are misbehaving, nothing unusual has appeared on these Estates on the contrary Chambers did not think the gang would finish Long pasture within the week, & he proposed to them to take it as a task. They worked extra hours, did the work to his satisfaction, & accomplished it by about half past four Oclock on Thursday. As a slight set off two of Ducketts people lost some time when they visited their friends there, they were sentenced to repay double time by the magistrate, but said in excuse that they had no houses. The lying in house is never used, & Chambers proposed to put doors in the end windows, and establish them there, until some better arrangement can be made for them.– I requested he would do so immediately, to prevent any reflection from the magistrate, & if it should not meet your approbation, the house can be restored to its former state with trifling labour. The Gang also applied to him for some jobbing labour, which they stated you had promised to give them, that they might make a little money in their own time. I have no knowledge of any disaffection in the neighbourhood, but having no acquaintance I cannot speak with certainty[.] The Overseer of Success died rather suddenly last week, & there is a change at Rose Hall. I have heard that at Steelfield the Negroes drew off from work at 9 O’Clock on Friday & refused to return, & that Windsor pen people refused to job on the next Estate (belonging to the same owner) as they had been always accustomed to do. The police interfered & took some of the most obstinate to Falmouth when several others threw down their hoes & followed them. Dr Doman is my Author & he has not learnt the result.–
I have examined all Mr Chapmans accounts, & find them correctly calculated & the separate Items, as far as comes within my knowledge to be correct.– I received £18.10 from Mr Murray which I ought to have put in the Bank on your account, but had advanced so much to Mr Chapman that I could not find so much in my possession when I intended to do it, I will do so as soon as Mr Chapman replaces the loan– I have three times applied to Phillpotts & Hawes to attest, or deny, Dewars accounts, but without success, they said they would call in court week, but did not,—I will go up this week and examine their Books. (if they will permit me to do so) I cannot close Dewars account until I get them, as the balance must be regulated by them. The amount of the rum is £340/13/4 (exclusive of duty) which I hope he will send you by post, or pay me tomorrow
I am Sir
Your obed Servt
William Tinkler
The Hon S B M Barrett
Address, on integral page: To The Hon S B M Barrett / SpanishTown.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
___________________
