Part 170

A. Yes, I think I have.

Q. When was the payment?

A. In February.

Lord Ellenborough. At what time in February.

A. Mr. Johnstone sent me a letter on the 22d of February, enclosing a letter to him from Mr. De Berenger.

Mr. Scarlett. He sent to you, on the 22d of February, a letter he had received from Mr. De Berenger?

A. He did.

Q. Did you keep the letter?

A. I did, here it is (producing it).

Lord Ellenborough. De Berenger's letter was enclosed in one of Mr. Cochrane Johnstone's?

A. Yes.

Q. Were the letters by the post? had they any post-mark upon them?

A. No; this letter was delivered.

Q. The delivery and date were cotemporary with the transaction, namely, about the 22d of February?

A. Yes, it was on the 22d of February I received it.

"18, Great Cumberland-street, "22d February 1814.

"My dear Sir,

"I have received the enclosed letter from the Baron; and as I mean to pay him this week for his plans, pray let me know if you have advanced him any money on my account, in addition to the L.50, which I paid him on account last year. You will perceive that he wishes a loan of L.200, in addition to this sum, and that he offers me as security, Colonel Kennedy's assignment. I have told him, that if this sum can be of real service to him, I will advance it to him, I will take his note for the amount; and if he is ever able to repay me, good and well; if not, I shall have had the satisfaction of serving him.

"As I shall receive the middle of next month a considerable sum of money, you will oblige me very much, if you will have the goodness to let me know, what it would cost me to purchase an annuity for the mother of my three natural children. I wish to settle L.200 a year upon her, and L.100 a year upon each of them; her age is 23, past; my eldest boy will be five years next May, the second boy four years next October, and the third one year next April; they are all healthy. I have in my will made a provision for them, but I wish to alter this mode of settlement for them, from motives of delicacy to my daughter, Miss Cochrane Johnstone, as I would not wish to insert their names along with hers.

"I will send you as soon as possible the statement about Lady Mary Lindsey Crawford, to enable you to give the answer to the bill in chancery.

"Pray settle my account with Dawson and Wrattislaw, as I wish to clear off all demands upon me as soon as possible. Whatever sum you say they ought to receive, I will pay them. I hope you are expediting the Wendover papers.

Believe me to be, my dear Sir, yours respectfully, A. Cochrane Johnstone."

Addressed to Gabriel Tahourdin, Esq. King's Bench Walk, Temple.

"London, February 22d 1814.

"My dear Sir,

"I beg to assure you, that I would not have complained to you of the disappointment and inconvenience which Colonel Kennedy's unreasonable delay of completing the purchase of the share in the oil patent created, had it not reached your ears from other quarters. I cannot agree with you, that his "want of cash" is a sufficient excuse; because in that case, he ought to have stated that instead of artificial reasons. Had he completed his contract at the price agreed on, namely, L.1,500, I should be liberated from this place, and be able to equip myself for the American expedition (which I do not relinquish) without encroaching on any friend.

"You have often kindly pressed me to let you know what would satisfy me for the two plans, MS. &c. connected with them. I really have never made a charge of this kind, and am at a loss how to calculate, much less to make a demand; but those who can perceive the labour, time, difficulties and contrivance, which the awkwardness of the ground created, may better be able to say, if L.250 for every thing, is unreasonable. At all events, it is not a charge, but I leave it to you; and in case you deem it extravagant, am ready to submit the whole to the valuation of any competent person. What regards the drawing, planning and superintending, Donovan, and the brass-cutter, in completing the two pieces of furniture, I am determined not to accept any thing for; these you must (forgive a strong word) do me the favour of accepting.

"Should Colonel K. not come to town, I shall feel greatly obliged by your assisting me with the above sum, in the course of a week. Pray favour me by calling on Mr. G. Tahourdin, in order to see the conditions of the assignment, which lays there, executed by me. He will also show you the Colonel's extraordinary letters, and all my answers; at least I imagine that he has, if not all, most of them.