We had this morning a long conference with Southouse, who complains
very much of the obscurity of our affairs, which is so great he
cannot as yet form even a clear Idea of the difficulties which
surround us. These difficulties however and the delays which they
produce are chiefly owing to your neglecting either to keep or to
send us the necessary writings.
[Sidenote: FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.]
Let me beg of you, Dear Sir, not to suffer any indolence or false
delicacy to prevent your going to the bottom of your affairs. The
time of temporary expedients is now passed. Nay, without a compleat
knowledge of things, hardly anything can be done even at present, for
as to borrowing any money on the Putney Estate, Mr. S. thinks it not
practicable till a clearer title is made out. He desires you would
immediately send up the Writings of the Copper share; as that is
unencumbered it may form part of a basis for some temporary security.
We will do every thing that can be done, but these obstacles are not
to be so easily surmounted.
I am very unhappy at not being able to send you, _for the present_,
a more favorable account, and am the more unhappy as I fear you will
even magnify every difficulty, and really make things worse by the
state of your own mind. Upon that head, Dear Sir, what can I say!
what have I to add on so melancholy a subject. Your health, your
credit, Mrs. Gibbon's health and peace, (I feel for what she must
have suffered) my own ease and fitness for any business, all depends
on your resolution.
I am, Dear Sir,
Most truly yours,
E. G.
We have not yet got the Deed of Enfranchisement nor will even Mrs.
W. discover her brother's habitation, but we hope to trace him out &
prevail with him.
58.
_To his Stepmother._
January the 21st, 1769.