| Description | Thank you, my dear Friend, for yours of yesterday's date; I wrote to you on Thursday and yesterday by post.
I beg you will remember that I protest to you I never did in thought, word, or deed aim to deprive C. Gascoigne of the office of manager for Carron Company, tho' I have always earnestly aimed to keep him under such restraints as might prevent his playing the fool and the devil as he hath done, and of late years urged that he should never draw a bill or receive a payment above 100£ without its being known to the secretary at the head of the compting house in a few days, who should have free access to every letter and every paper. And as our affairs are now situated, those restraints and full powers should be vested in trustees appointed by my family creditors, who, with Mr. Gascoigne's children's stock, have a great majority in the shares of Carron Company.
I have always had a personal attachment to Gascoigne; I am almost ashamed to say that I still have, when he is not pricking at me and when I can keep my thoughts from his base conduct. But it is that sort of affection that fathers have for a very culpable and peevish child. His late sneers on me and my son in his letters to Mr. William Elphinstone, and his intimate friends' unjustifiable severity in proceedings against my son, was too much to bear cooly, as was his countenancing improper metal being cast into cannon contrary to his explicit promise to abide by rules which he admitted were essential.
The truth is, he hath eminent abilities, but firm checks must be established to counteract his wildness.
The excitement Gascoigne hath held out to others to go to Russia will not be easily allayed. I send you enclosed copy of a letter from Mr. Tibbats to me, dated the 1st February, stating what passed at a meeting of Carron partners on that subject, which shews in a strong point of view the insolence with which a valuable resideing partner is treated, who hath 3500£ of Carron stock and I suppose is worth as much more, but many circumstances unite to shew it has long been determined to drive him from Carron.
I also send you an impressed copy of a letter I begun to Mr. Tibbats the 16th March in London and finished here the 29th.
And I send you three printed copies of the representations I made to you and Mr. Baxter in December, and of the letter which Mr. Nichols had your joint order to write to creditors.
I anxiously beg of you that, when you leave Mr. Elphinstone and Mr. Gascoigne, that it may be put in writeing what obligations you come under in any respect whatever; this I am sure is necessary.
Mr. Wilson has been with me to day, and we are to have a meeting at the Hotel on Monday morning, 9 o'clock. God bless you.
I am ever gratefully and affectionately yours,
S. Garbett
[Edited transcript.]
Copy letter. Ambrose Tibbats (Edinburgh) to Samuel Garbett (-). 1 Feb. 1786.
(Transcript.)
Copy letter. Samuel Garbett (London) to Ambrose Tibbatts [Edinburgh]. 16-29 Mar. 1786. (2 pcs.)
(Begun in London and completed in Birmingham.) |