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determine by return of Post" Express my inability to do as they
suggest & with an Expostulation – They justify the course they have
taken" and I wrote as follows "C. on S. Nov. 16th 1843

My dear Sir

i will not defer thanking you for your Letter of 13 Inst
in relation to Mr. Bowman's Bill of Exchange for £1000, and correct
no doubt as your view of the whole Transaction is, as long as yourselves
and Mr. Bowman were alone concerned, you have not, it appears to me
at the same time borne in mind that when my Brothers interposed they
prevented the almost certain loss of your advances to Mr. Bowman, in the
general wreck of his Property that but for said Interposition would speedily
have ensued. My Brothers stated in the Letter which you saw that
Mr. Bowman's Wool should be consigned to you, as heretofore, an
arrangement, which they saw carried into effect, and which shows their
determination to protect your Interests. I will only therefore add
that I am truly concerned that you should have allowed the Bill to
be returned to Sydney unpaid. &c &c

Since copying the above & referring again to their Letter I see
they have refused to honor "the Drafts" altho' the correspondence
respects a Draft of £1000.

I can only say that you ought according to your promise to have
written to them – and should not have endorsed Mr. Bowman's Bills
without some assurance of their being paid, by possessing yourselves of the
Bill of Lading
Circumstanced as I am in this Country I had neither the power of entering
into a Guarantee that you would pay Mr. Bowman's Debt to Buckles
nor of taking up these Bills. It has from the commencement been a most
rash Transaction, but having committed yourselves to it you ought to have
carefully measured every after step – instead of which all mention of it has
been omitted, as if the Affair has been left to itself.

On the other side you will see what has been done respecting the
Wool – I am far from being satisfied with the Sale; altho' it is
an improvement on the Sale of the Summer by almost 3d per
Pound.

The Proceeds will be paid in about this Time.
You ought to write to Davidson to request him to take a
Mortgage on Belmont for the £2000 which you have overdrawn
at the Banking House –

It is impossible not to be most anxious on account of the very
indiscreet altho' affectionate steps you have taken. The Wool
Markets improve – but not as yet in the finer qualities. I
say God bless you, my dear Brothers and give you Fortitude to
carry through your affairs thro' the tremendous Crises in which
they are placed. With affectionate Remembrances to our dear
Mother. Believe me – Very affectionately Yours

Edward Macarthur

Tell dear Emily that I had a
Note from Bromley not long since
when they were all pretty well

Has it never occurred to
you that a purchaser or
purchasers of Mr. Bowman's
Property might be found in
England, if properly divided
and described with an
account of the proceeds
of the Estates during
a series of years to be
named. To be advertised
and sold by private
sale or auction – terms
to be specified.

Remember me very affectionately to
dear Emmeline and Mary.

What with you and the Irish I
have enough to think of – I wish
I could settle your affairs with
same ease I can theirs – It is all
menace and bluster – and humbug
But nevertheless determination is
necessary.

Adieu
EM

Buckles have not behaved handsomely,
but yet no Merchant can say they
were not right in doing as they have
done. The least said about these
matters the better. Endorse no
Bills without security.