Letter describing the opening of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway and the death of Sir William Huskisson MP after being run down by the "Rocket"
- Made:
- 1830-09-21
- maker:
- Scoresby, William




Letter dated 21 September 1830 from William Scoresby to Mrs J Clark, describing the opening of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway and the death of Sir William Huskisson MP after being run down by the "Rocket". William Huskisson was the MP for Liverpool and a financial and trade figure.
Details
- Extent:
-
1 document
- Identifier:
- HUSK
- Access:
- Access is given in accordance with the NRM access policy. Material from this archive is available to researchers through Search Engine
- System of Arrangement:
- Transcription:
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Liverpool 21 Sept. 1830.
My Dear Sister,
The opening of the Railway and the quantity of strangers here in consequence, with other circumstances, have been the occasion of your letter laying by me some days unanswered I now, however, proceed to reply to it.
Your wishes shall be attended to in respect to the half-Year's interest of the bond. As far as I am concerned I shall raise no trouble on that account. I am truly thankful that the matter is settled without expensive litigation and vexation. Truly the Lord hath been pleased to help us in all our arrangements Any account of which we had any doubt having turned out better than expected and the whole produce of the estate being about a thousand pounds greater than expected. Mr Clark's balance, (after giving him credit for £11.13/2 advanced to him) and exclusive of the ½ year's interest is 21.4.8½ for which I enclose a cheque to him as a receipt to you.
[Page 2]
I settled with Miss Cuper at York for £16.7.0d balance of A/c and got from her a silver fork, dessert spoon & tea spoon. The dessert spoon belonged to my lot - the two other articles are waiting for a conveyance having been forgotten when Betty came.
The Spanish Bonds are left to your united decision. The general expectation is a Revolution in Spain & a rise in the bond; but this of course is mere opinion.
I recently heard of William Skelton. A sailor was at our house a week or two ago who had just left him in North America. He was about embarking for Jamaica as mate of a vessel & on his return was to come to England. He may be expected, probably, in about three months, if he continue to the same mind. The man said he was now much more steady than formerly.
On consulting a law book recently I found out the occasion of the difference of opinion among the lawyers as to the payment of interest on the Legacies. And the law is stated to be that interest is reckoned due when the legacy is payed out of a specific stock or other investment which is regularly gaining interest; but is not due when (as in our case) it is payable out of the general Estate.
As soon as Mr. Watson sends in his bill to me - then a general settlement may be made, but there can be no further dividend
[Page 3]
till the bonds are sold. I should wish to know, when you write, what rent for Ewe Cote was paid into the bank recently. When I know this it will enable me to settle that account. At present there is purchased for Ewe Cote 1241£ new 3½pct stock producing about 43£10 annually which with about 35£ due Ewe Cote will give nearly 45£ p annum being 3[illegible] less than the proposed annuity. Will Mrs. Scoresby be satisfied with this reduction, as we (the Executors) cannot do any thing more?
I shall be glad to receive the jet ordered of Mr. P. by any suitable opportunity I shall be obliged to you to settle for the same out of my rent. As it will be no longer convenient to you, I presume, to receive my rents, who can I get, think you, to do me this piece of Service? The box of necklaces are[missing paper] safe &Lace[illegible word(s)][missing paper] I thank you for your trouble.
All the family here are in bed or I should hav[missing paper] Many kind remembrances. Mr L returned safe in his [missing paper] 10 days ago. With kind love to Tom & all friends there - Your [missing paper]
[Page 4]
PS We have been all here in terrible dismay at the Melancholy death of Mr. Huskisson. I unfortunately was in the train of carriages that went over him. I saw him 2 or 3 minutes after the event & communicated to the Duke of Wellington the first intimation of the nature of the injury. After this instead of being the most splendid pageant ever seen, it was suddenly converted into a solemn funeral procession. How transient is human happiness! Mr. Huskisson was the idol of the Mercantile World in this place to whom our merchants trusted more than to God; but God in his mysterious providence took the idol away selecting him out of near 500,000 persons!
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