Volume 18: Sir Edward Macarthur letters, 17 January 1832-27 July 1840

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House of Lords, January 17th 1832

My dear Father –

I wrote a Letter to William about three Weeks since from Erlestoke Park which Messrs. Buckles forwarded by the Barrell. I have within these few days sent you Letters and a Parcel of Pamphlets, Quarterly Review and News Papers by the Agnes, a direct Vessel. The Master will retain until applied to by some Members of the Family for it, a Packet which contains the accounts for the year & some music for dear Emmeline. Since dispatching them I have received a Letter from Glasgow of which I send the Copy on the other side, so that I trust Bennet's affair may be at length satisfactorily and speedily terminated – Parliament met again for the despatch of business this day. There is always some thing agreeable to me in the meeting for it places me in an atmosphere of excitement without being too greatly effected [affected] by it. I have received from the Book Seller an other Volume of Hansard's Parliamentary Debates, to August which I shall send you by the first good opportunity.

The day before yesterday I met Joseph Hume & his Wife at dinner, at Sir Rob^t. Campbell's and was very much amused with them. In private life the former seems an amiable man – I was not displeased to make his acquaintance, as it may perhaps by and by afford me opportunities of preventing his being rendered the organ of misrepresentation I shall put aside my Paper until tomorrow when perhaps I may resume my pen –

18th. January. After laying down my Paper yesterday I went [continued on next page]

[continued from top part of next page] confidently anticipated seems for the present to be postponed – I am going to dine with Mr Polhill Tomorrow. He is precisely what he always was a great oddity – He has perhaps one of the best Cellars of Wine in London, which altho' it gratify him on the one hand, must be no small plague on the other – because he fears to absent himself any time from Home lest the Philistines should get into the Cellar – There is a meeting of the A.A. Company to day for the purpose of auditing the accounts – Sir Edw. Parry has I understand written to say that the Cole speculation is likely to turn out well. I fear that it will not be possible to sell James's shares – I have heard nothing lately about them, but I desired Mr. William Coles to make the best bargain he could – I have not had an opportunity of seeing Mr. Coles and his Family since my return from Erlestoke – perhaps I may see him to day.

Mr. Hardisty, Mrs. Lucas's Solicitor called on me yesterday to consult me respecting the sending to the Colony a young man, I believe a relative of his whom they (his friends) know not how to dispose of – It appears he had left his Friends and enlisted as a Private Soldier in some Regiment. They afterwards procured a Commission for him in a Reg^t. in India, which Mr. Hardisty stated he had been compelled to leave for some very slight transgression of discipline. I told Mr. Hardisty that I considered it a very dangerous experiment to send such a young man to [continued at bottom of next page]

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to call on Mrs Plummer, whom I had not seen for a considerable time. She is now living in Barnard Street Russell Square with her two Daughters and Mrs. Thompson – I found them very well, particularly the old lady who tho' blind was employed at some sort of needle work – William Thompson had lately been over from St. Omers, whither he has returned. Mrs. Plummer says he is quite care worn not knowing what to do or how to provide for his Family.

You will have seen in the News Papers some account of certain Ladies having what is called the Gift of the Tongues Having observed the names of some Family connections of hers in reference to this subject, I spoke to Mrs. Plummer about it, and learnt from her that not only they, but also her daughter Emma had received this divine Gift – They are all quite convinced that it is so. I asked how this manifestation from above was made apparent. She said the Tongue spoke involuntarily, as if it were seized by some power that used it at its will – in short that it was the Tongue of an invisible being in her Daughters mouth, that upon occasion spoke in a language which she did not herself understand, but which by prayer might be made intelligible – They are all quite convinced of the Truth and Sincerity of the Parties, being as they are their near relatives – What shall we say to all this –

Parliament reassembled yesterday – The Duke of Wellington was in his place looking cheerful and well notwithstanding his late severe illness – The Whigs appear again to have been blundering about the Parliamentary Returns, on which the new Reform Bill is sure founded. The creation of Peers which was so [continued at lower part of previous page]

[continued from bottom of previous page] New South Wales, if they had any regard for him – It frequently happens that I am asked for Letters of introduction to you for Parties of whom I know nothing It is difficult to reject without giving offence – All that the Bearers of such Letters ought to expect is advice as to the mode in which they are to proceed – if they become acquaintance of the Family, it should be the work of time. I have lately given Letters to Mr. John Dillon, a Solicitor at the Irish Bar. His Cousin I know intimately having served with him in the 39th. Reg^t. and the Mother and Sisters of this Gentleman I formerly received some civilities from in Dublin. They are most respectable Persons. This Gentleman and his Wife have I fear been living too fast When he came to me to mention his project of going to New South Wales with his Friend Mr. Plunket one of the new Law Officers I found him filled with the most extravagant Hopes and expectations in regard to the Prospects that appeared to unfold themselves to him – These I have endeavoured to moderate by pointing out the many difficulties, and bad materials that he would undoubtedly find in his practice in the Courts in New South Wales He takes Letters of great credit to his character from many earnest men in Dublin – If you can be of any assistance to him at first, I should be glad, but pray dearest Father let there be no intimacies with any of the new comers until time has shed some light upon their Characters and prospects –

Mr. Watson Taylor asked me for a Letter for the Relative of a Clergyman Mr. Plumtree Wilson – but the Letters which accompany the introduction will show the nature of the

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[Copy of letter alluded to by Edward Macarthur at the beginning of his letter] Glasgow 10th January 1832

Edward MacArthur Esq.

My dear Sir,

When I addressed you on the 26th November last, I was in hopes of being able ere now to advise having got into my possession the money due to Mr. W. Bennett, from the Estate of his late Brother, and I now trouble you with a few Lines to explain the reason why I have not lest from my silence you might suppose I was overlooking the matter. Mr. Wilson (the Executor under Mr. Bennett's Will) and I had arranged the terms of the discharge to be given by me, on the Legacy being paid, and I expected to have had the whole thing closed on the 28th Ultimo, but he unfortunately was seized with some inflammatory disorder about that time, which has confined him chiefly to Bed ever since. He informs me that he is now able to sit up for a few hours in the afternoon and hopes to be able to come to Glasgow next week, when I trust that the affair will be finally settled.

I shall probably not address you again until I can advise you of this having taken place, in the mean time you may rest assured that Mr. B's Interests will not be neglected. I remain my dear Sir

Yours very sincerely Signed Thomas Buchanan