SD842. William Wemyss Anderson to Edward Moulton-Barrett (father)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 335 (in part).
Kingston
25 Decr 1837.
My dear Sir
Altho’ I have not had the pleasure of any personal communication or correspondence with you, I think it incumbent on me to make to write to you as I now do believing the communication to be one which you will appreciate.
You have doubtless been anticipating intelligence of the death of your brother—his illness for sometime past having been so decided in its characteristics, and his own anticipations of the result so certain. He breathed his last about 4 oClock of the morning of saturday the 23d inst, at Miss Allmens Lodgings[,] East Street[,] Kingston. We had come from Spanish Town about 10 days previously with the design of embarking on the steam vessel that he might spend his last days, and be interred at Cinnamon Hill—but he found himself so weak that he was easily dissuaded from the attempt, and |literal[l]y| he expressed himself satisfied, or rather desirous, that he should be buried here, by saying in a note which he sent me in which he referred to the subject “where the tree falls there let it lie”: so he has been buried in the parish Church yard, and Sir Joshua Rowe, one of his Executors has directed me to get the usual protection built over the grave and a marble slab with his name to mark this spot for any friend who may from affection to his memory be induced to visit it. I will carefully attend to this matter.
The disease was, I believe, pulmonary consumption. Your brother during his stay at Kingston was unusually communicative to me on religious topics. We had at various times noticed them during the intimacy we have had ever since my arrival in the Island upwards of 4 years ago: but I cannot say that these notices had been very satisfactory—altho’ it was evident that he had both read and reflected on the subject. We had read some books I had lent him—& he especially expressed himself pleased with one, which I dare say you know “Sheppard[’]s private Thoughts on Devotion.” It was only however during the latter days of our intimacy that he manifested the deep and unfeigned interest which I rejoice to say he has evinced and which authorises me to convey to you the strong impression I have that he has been made a partaker thro’ God[’]s grace, of the salvation of Christ. I shall endeavour to note what he said. “I once thought that God was all in all and that it was needless to go further in religion than God—but I have no doubt now of the value and necessity of Christ[’]s salvation. The life of Socrates which you lent me first roused my attention to this.” (I think he referred to the poor results to which that philosopher had arrived—notwithstanding the famous character which had been ascribed to him)—“but I am thoroughly convinced of the divine character of the Christian revelation– I do not understand it all—but I take it as God has |ordered| it in his word, which I believe. I have had talents given me but I have not used them (there his expression of deep humiliation & self abasement induced me to venture at the moment an attempt to notice some useful things indeed there are many useful & excellent things which he had done) but he interrupted me somewhat displeased and continued.) No excuse!– I have no excuse to offer—make no excuse! But I leave it to my brother, and he will do with it (meaning his fortune) what I have not done. Tell him I loved him to the last—sometimes I have thought him harsh & unbending but he did what he thought right. I have no hope in any thing but in Christ alone. He died for sinners & I am a sinner—therefore he died for me! Oh it is a sad thing to give the very dregs of existence to God. (I said—but perhaps Mr Barrett you are enabled to feel that if God should restore you you would henceforth live to him—he continued) No—I would not live. I believe I would again return to the “vomit”—but I wish—I could—it would be my earnest desire to live to God.” (By these words his meaning was that his opinion of his own force of resisting sin was sad that he could have no confidence in himself even were he again put on his trial, surrounded by the temptations incident to life in this country) “I die in peace with all mankind—I forgive every one. I feel unkindly towards none. Have you[,] he said at another time addressing me, a copy of |Tults| Bible—I said I had not—“then allow me to give you my copy—it is an excellent work—much superior to |Mant|. I used to read it daily at one time of my life—and you will perhaps care for it more when I tell you that I got it from my brother– I have been several times very ill before, but I never felt as I do now—I am quite willing to die.” He said these last words, I think, in reference to a remark of mine—that it was not the near approach of death that could enable us to appreciate, so as to rely on the Gospel—and that I thought his being enabled now to do so should be regarded as the answer to many prayers, which I doubted not his pious relatives had been preferring for him. I prayed with him several times—and most unfeigned and profound were his expressions of acquiescence in the matter of my petitions—which I need not say I endeavoured to keep as close as I could to the essential truths of the Gospel. During the last hours of his life his sufferings were very great & precluded almost entirely my communication with him on religious topics—but there was one opening when with his permission I read or rather prayed in the language of scripture—that was a few hours before his death. Your son & myself were with him to the last. He requested me to be with him during the trying period & I need not say—with what feeling I complied with his request. We shall I trust meet in heaven. Since my arrival in the Island he has shewn me much kindness– Our first introduction arose out of professional matters—subsequent intercourse refined the acquaintanceship into friendship. You are aware that he committed to me the charge of your legal matters. I am indebted very much to both of you for the kind and generous manner in which my efforts to serve you have been appreciated. I made out a will for him a few months ago in which he named me one of his Executors—but he subsequently made another, in which, more prudently I think, he nominated Sir Joshua Rowe & your son Mr Samuel—as it is probable my duty may be to adjust the account with them for you as the residuary legatee. There is not likely to be any difficulty in settling the affairs, unless in so far as the Executors may think the remote possibility of any claim arising out of the Chancery suit a reason for investing, rather than paying over into your hands, the residue when ascertained. I trust to be enabled to inclose a copy of the will & codicils in this letter. I wrote to Mr Farquharson by post informing him of the event & enclosing an extract from the will of your brothers directions about the crop. I suppose it is unnecessary for me to say one word on these subjects—as I doubt not Mr Farquharson understands and will attend to them all. I am to write to Gordon by this packet about Bloomsbury House which you are probably aware was purchased for Mrs Barrett & fully decked with furniture plate &c. Sir Joshua Rowe has hardly written to Dr Spence to take an Inventory of every thing in it.
I cannot omit expressing my high sense of the unwearied & affecionate attentions of your son Mr Samuel Barrett to his Uncle. Had he been a son he could not have done more—& I believe he had the pleasure of feeling that it soothed & gratified his dying relative to the last. Indeed his presence may be regarded as one of those providential things which should be thankfully recognised. The medical attendance was the very best which the country could afford—and nothing I believe was left undone which skill or attention could accomplish to relieve the sufferer.
I do not trouble you by this opportunity with any other topics. They might be unwelcome at such a time—and I do not feel much disposed to enter upon them. But by next packet I shall write to you fully. Meanwhile allow me to subscribe myself, with much respect,
Dear Sir
Your faithful & obedient friend
Wm Wemyss Anderson
26th I have just learned that Sir Joshua Rowe has directed Mr Aikman the Solicitor of your late brother, and now of his Executors to send you a copy of the Will by the present packet.
Address, on integral page: E. B. M. Barrett Esq. / Messrs Anderson & Co / Mincing / Lane / London.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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