Barnstaple Dear Brother I this moment had your letter from Demerary dated February 10th 1784 - and am extremely sorry to find your circumstances almost as deplorable as my own, but we are brothers in affliction as well as consanguinity. I shall no longer dwell on the melancholy Picture of our present situation or reflect on the baseness of our sister's conduct which can only exasperate our sense of misfortune without alleviating it. Had your auspicious stars directed you to steer for England before her marriage I am convinced the stings of conscience would have suggested to her the necessity of making some Restitution for the discovery of the Bonds - which every day becomes more evident. She has been lately delivered of a son - and by way of Farce to the Comedy compliments and congratulations have been sent to me on the Occasion by Mr. Gosse - how far such an Event was agreeable to me you may readily conceive when my Paternal Property is thereby alienated from our family and conferred on a sisters child - This Circumstance amongst various others will of course destroy Distant prospect of the Estate Devolving to either of us - I would therefore advise you to hasten to England with the utmost expedition in order to settle your own affairs to greater satisfaction and so avoid the superfluous expense of Attorneys bills which in the most trivial concerns are highly exorbitant - by appointing an Attorney to administering little concerns after the Old Rogues Death I am saddled with a Bill and Costs of £60 - In my former letters I acquainted you that it was the clear opinion of some eminent Counsell in Chancery that on filing a bill in Equity to bring all Parties on Oath relative to the first Bonds, my Claim to the Division of our Father Property would be indisputably good, especially as I have preserved a Copy of those Bonds, and our Sister's Oath would prove their Identity - Why will you thus hesitate to redress the Injury done us and Commence a suit of Chancery to recover £4000 at the uncertain expense of £100 - I have been equally anxious with yourself to dispose of my little property but my honest sister refuses to part with the Title Deeds - You may perhaps receive the same treatment on application to her for the Title Deeds of Woolavington, the Fee of which does not exceed £35 p. annum - the other part is leasehold. If I can render you the least service in selling this Estate to advantage, I shall with pleasure execute the Trust reposed in me, but no person will advance one shilling on the Mortgage without inspecting the title Deeds of an Estate left me by Will, which will oblige me to file a bill against her in Chancery and I suspect you may be in the same situation unless you make a personal application. My continuance here is quite uncertain for the reverse of Fortune has in grate measure destroyed my Professional Interest but the limits of my paper oblige me to leave you abruptly without expatiating on my own affairs, which I could sacrifice to the Esteem and Friendship of a Brother which is far preferable to the Wealth of the Indies in the opinion of your sincere Friend P.S. Write me your
instructions soon and direct for me at Bridgwater,
Somerset. Consider the necessity of returning to England
1st for managing your affairs to the greatest
satisfaction 2nd for the purpose for recovering £4000 by
filing a bill in Chancery - |