Letter – Edward Blackett to John Erasmus Blackett – 28 Feb 1803

Thorpe Lee 28th Febr 1803

Dear Brother

      I rec'd yr favor of the 22nd Inst. But I was sorry to find that you gave but a poor account of yrself. The next day I rec'd a letter from My Bro. H who says, that he saw you a few days ago, that you look'd extreamly well, & that you thought to be one of the best looking Gentlemen in the Kingdom of your Age, & a credit to the Family, as well as, to the Corporation you belong to. So it ill becomes you, who never speak ill of others, to speak ill of yrself: Perhaps it may be thought a little Extraordinary that two Gentlemen who are reputed to have no small share of medical knowledge, & who long have been great Practitioners both on themselves & others should so widely difer in opinions, but in all ages it has been said; that Doctors defer.

      I am very sorry to find by your Letter, & also by Mrs Steads, that Mr Stead & Mr <Tyard> are likely to be so great Suffering by the Villany & Rascality of Messrs Bird & Savage; Some of those agents are great Rogues, & acquire great Fortunes; Mr Blake an acquaintance of mine, supposed to have by much the greatest property of any person in Carolina, transacts all his own business & wont trust any Agents. However I shall be very ready to Join My Bro in accomaditing Mr Stead, & consenting to his disposal of Ryal; but att the same time, your Daughters Jointure must be secured to her. Perhaps Mr & Mrs Stead may soon be in want of some cash, till their next Remittances arrive, we shall be ready to advance them a thousand pounds whenever they please, I think you judged right in consulting Mr Williamson about it; He is a Safe, Sensible, liberal minded Man, & a more proper Spoken Person can not be Employ'd.

      My Son & Daughter are now wth us, But leave us tomorrow for Town; Their little Boy is realy a fine child & very well; But I don't think he will change for the better; by changing this place for Harley St. My Daughter Scott too wh her young Folks leave Thorpe for Brighton, friday next, on Sunday they set sail for the Continent; neither do I think they will better themselves, by change of Place. Our Love & best wishes attend you, the Admiral & Mrs Collingwood, & My Bro. & I am yrs most faithfully 

      E Blackett

(turn over)

after you are well informed of the full value of Ryal; I think you should offer it 1st to Mrs Beaumont, it joins on the Estate that will come to her family, & she ought to give a very good price for it, or should it not be put up for auction?