Fine 1823 Entire ANTIGUA - BATH. Charles Elliott to Hastings Elwin. .

Hastings Elwin, former advocate general of Antigua and founding member of Bath Scientific Society and future parliamentarian of New South Wales. Asking for a loan of money due to dire financial situation. Elwin was also the executor of plantation owner Langford Lovell, his wife’s brother in law.

Elliott likely a clerk or similar on a plantation owned by Elwin’s brother in law Francis otley

Letter thanking Elwin for £8 and asking for a memento which he can remember the latter by.

Hastings Elwin Esq.

No. 36 Park Street

Bath

Letter

Antigua March 21st 1825

Honoured Sir,

I now take the liberty of writing to you and to return you my grateful thanks for sending me the eight pounds sterling that I received from Mr. Otley. I would have wrote to you before but I did not know your direction. You must certainly have thought me very ungrateful after so many kindnesses that you most obligingly bestowed upon me that I did not even thank you for them, but it was not from neglect that I did not do it before now therefore I hope that you will not consider it so.

I suppose that you must have heard that I have lost my Dear Parent, the only one that was dearest to my heart but she is gone I hope to another and a better World, you must know the feelings of a youth that has lost his best friend and particularly when he was such a distance as I was when my Mother breathed her last moments calling for her Son and he not near to give her the least comfort but I hope you will forgive me for writing thus as thank God you will forget me.

I have long experienced you as my best Friend and I shall never forget you as long as I live. I would esteem it as an infinite favour if you would send me a silver hunting watch and a small gold seal as a token and remembrance of your friendship to me that when I look at it I can never forget you. You may depend that though I have troubled you for this that I will never make it a practice of doing so.

I now beg leave to conclude with sincerely hoping that you Mrs. Elwin (though I have not the pleasure of knowing her) is quite well which leaves me at present.

Mr. and Mrs. Otley and the Family gives their love to you and Mrs. E. They are all very kind to me and like me very well. Please to excuse blunders and bad writing as my business will not allow me the write the letter properly. Send me an answer as I long to hear if you are well.

I remain

Honoured Sir,

Your most obedient and

very humble Servant

Charles Elliott