The discovery of Williamson's papers, tho' in itself a most pleasing
event, is however productive of some delay as well as trouble.
Besides the Deed of Enfranchisement there are two very large boxes of
writings, many no doubt very trifling, but some which certainly are,
and others which possibly may be, of importance to us. Southouse will
examine them with all possible diligence, but from the new matter
which arises, he is obliged for a very few days to suspend the Deed
of Trust, and during that time, as he has daily occasion to see me,
he insists on my not leaving Town; for which reason you must excuse
me, Dear Sir, from accepting at present the interview which you
desire, at Beriton.
[Sidenote: PROSPECTS OF FUTURE EASE.]
Our plan is still the same as what seemed to be agreeable to your
Wishes: To devote the Hampshire and Putney Estates to the payment of
your debts, to convey the Copper and New River Shares to my use (on
my giving up my present annuity of £300 p. annum) and to reserve the
Buckinghamshire Estate for your support. Mr. Scott's £900 will be
ready on the signing the Deeds, and we can _now_ make out so good a
title to Putney, that the disposal of it will be a matter of neither
delay nor difficulty.
The only proposed alteration was that you should allow me to have
the nominal possession of the Buckinghamshire Estate, subject to pay
You the whole real profits of it in the form of an annuity to you,
and the Estate itself chargeable with Mrs. Gibbon's jointure. The
very harsh Reception this proposal has met with from you has given
me the deepest concern, as I am conscious of the rectitude of my
intentions & still persuaded of the propriety of the measure. My
motives could be only such as were both fair & even kind. The nominal
property of land could afford me no pleasure, the _real management_
of it must be attended with some trouble. I am willing, nay desirous,
to put it absolutely out of my power to sell, mortgage, or alienate
the smallest portion of it, and wish to bind myself by the severest
ties that the Law can invent, to pay you regularly half yearly, a
method which must be easy to you and may sometimes be inconvenient
to me--But I shall proceed no farther on a Subject which appears so
disagreeable to you; I hope indeed I have the less occasion to do it,
as Mr. Scott's last letter must have cleared up some passages of his
first, which did not strike you immediately in their true meaning.
I shall not, Dear Sir, swell this letter, with any vain
protestations. I now see the fairest prospect of future ease and
tranquillity. During the course of this unfortunate transaction I
have endeavoured to have the approbation of my own conscience, and of
our real friends Mr. Porten and Mr. Scott. I flatter myself that I
shall one day obtain yours.
I am, Dear Sir,
Most truly yours and Mrs. G.'s,
E. GIBBON.
62.
_To his Father._
Pall Mall, March the 22nd, 1769.