SD96. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to Philip Scarlett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 309 (in part).
| Copy of letter to P.A. Scarlett Esqr | [?Coxhoe] |
Jany 6. 1808–
My dear Sir
I thank you for your letter of the 27 Oct last and accept with pleasure your congratulations on the birth of my Son; I assure you it is a great satisfaction to me to reflect if any thing should happen, to me, he would have such real friends in the world as yourself & Brother to protect him and his Property.
I wrote you by the last Packet and was compelled to request that you would not for the future send any more of my sugars to Newcastle, as I cannot by any means come to a settlement with Mr. Clarke. I also mentioned in my last two demands that I had upon Oxford Estate, as it may be of some moment I shall send you a copy of them and I beg you will give me your opinion upon them. My Mother wrote me, that Mary Harisons claim, is quite ridiculous. My Uncle George and her Brother Job Dale had a lease upon it of nine years at the conclusion of which they were to give it free of expense compleatly settled, but on the contrary when it came into my Grandfathers hands there was a debt upon it of fifty thousand pounds. I am afraid, with respect to Mr Moultons account we shall eventually be worse [than] we are now, at any rate by an appeal we shall gain time & that is now, considering the times, a circumstance of great moment, I hope soon to see your Brother, I expect every hour to hear of my Brothers return when last I heard from him he [was] in Sweden. We are all here cruelly alarmed at the report of an intended insurrection among the Negroes which was to take place this month I hope, to God, that fear is without reason and that we shall not have to add this to our numerous misfortunesB With compts to Mrs Scarlett
I am Dear Sir
Yrs Most truly
EMB
I have omitted to mention a Bill drawn by you favor of my brother upon me, enclosed to Mr. Clarke, and of which you gave me no advise. Is it for Negroe Line?
B I should really wish you to pause before you purchase any Slaves. I think I have enough to make as much Sugars as I can sell with advantage all our difficulties have arisen from the prodigious quantity made being considerably more than the demand.
Publication: None traced.
Source: File copy at Eton College Library.
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