Mary Tucker letter to James Withers, 1780 June 9

Mary Tucker letter to James Withers, 1780 June 9

Letter. Barbados, M[ary] T[ucker] to Mr. [James] Withers, Copthall Court, London. Sorry he had trouble getting bill settled with Mr. Marley; appreciates his discharging small accounts left unpaid; always grateful for his many favors in England; spoke to her friends Miss Jones and Mr. Chan to deal with him in England; always anxious to aid him; regards herself as bird of passage not knowing where to go in confused world; sorry he complains of want of spirit; Cousin [Courtenay] still in this Island and anxious to get out, as she is; cannot do anything until George [Norton] returns from St. Eustatia; expect the family will go to America via Eustatia; situation here disagreeable; the seat of war; number of people to be supplied with provisions makes every thing scarce and dear; fate of Islands depends on success of British fleet; should French of Spanish win will fall sacrifice; may go to America with Cousin Norton; direct her care of Mrs. Pollard; sorry he could not send tea; in great demand; if it arrives after she leaves Pollard can remit balance; received letter from Mrs. [John] Baylor who has daughter; had been in Barbadoes 9 months before hearing from her; she seems worried over her mother and anxious to see her; sorry at disappointment of friend Baynham; her poor brother left for America 4 months ago; have not heard from him. “Falmouth Ship Lre”—date stamp. 3 pp., 37x31cm., A.L.S.

MS1936.3.1468
Folder 143

Ink on paper

[Page 1]

Barbados June 9^th 1780

My Dear Friend,

I receiv'd your obliging favor by the
Packett, was sorry to find you had had so much trouble
in geting the Bill settled with M^r. Marley, and tho
he was so deletery in executing it I will be charitable
enough to suppose he had no intention of offending
either of us, but that it was owing to a hurry of
Business that prevent'd him from doing it as soon
as he might have wish'd; I am thankful to^youmy
Dear Friend for the trouble you have had in disch
-arging the small accounts I left unpaid, but as
I know the goodness of your Heart, and the pleasure
you always receive in having it in your power
to oblige your Friends, I will make no further
apology and will only say I wish it was in my
power to serve you as much as I am inclin'd to
do from Inclination and from what you merit
for^yourgreat attention and kindness to me in England
which I shall ever remember with gratitude;
I spoke to several of my Friends, requesting the [illegible]
of them in case they shou'd Ship to England to
give you the commissions, Miss Jones and M^r. Chase
has promis'd me they will, you may depend their
shall be nothing wanting in me to procure as
many more as I can, and can I be of service to you,

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or M^rs. Withers in this part of the World or any other
it may be my fate to be fixd in, I beg you will both
command me, at present I can only look upon myself
as a Bird of Passage, not knowing what [part] to
go^to that promises the most comfort as the whole
World seems to be in confusion, and their is no
chance of being tolerably easy any where, I was
sorry to find you complaind so much the want of
spirits, do my Dear Friend dont suffer them to be
depress'd but look forward and hope kind Providen^ce
has something good in store for you, and determine
to take the World as it goes, which I mean to do
in future; My Cousin Norton is still in this
Island tho very anxious to get out of it, as well
as myself, she cannot do any thing till my Cousin
George returns from S.^t Eustatia she is in daily
expectation of seeing him, as soon he arrives will
determine what to do, but I fansy Eustatia will
be the way fixt for the Familys geting to America
God grant when they do set out, they may arrive safe
& find all their Friends well, our Situatiion in
this Island is exceedingly disagreable as this is
the seat of War & the number of People to be supply^d
with Provisions of corse makes every thing very scarce
and Dear, and indeed the fate of these Islands
depends now entirely upon the success of the Engli^sh
Fleet, shou'd the French & Spaynards make a Junction
and^the latter ^shou'd get the better, we must Inevitably fall
a Sacrifice, so you see the Melancholy prospect we

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we have before us, I have some thoughts of going to
America with my Cousin Norton so that when you write
to me must beg you will direct your letters to the
care of M^rs. Pollard, and any thing else you shou'd
have directions to send me, as she will forward them
by the way of S^t Eustatia, I am sorry you cou'd not
send the Tea I wrote for by the Fleet that is now expe
-ct'd, as that article is now in demand and I might
have sold it to great advantage, in case I shou'd have
have left the Island before it arrives I shall leave
orders with M^rs. Pollard to remit the Ballance by
the return of the Fleet, I receiv'd a letter from M.^rs Baylor
dat'd September 21^st 79 she mentions her having a Daug
hter 4 Months old, wou'd you beleive it we had been here
near nine months before we ever receiv'd a line from
M.^rs Baylor, and your letter was the first that gave
account of her having been deliver'd, she seems
very happy and her only uneasiness now seems to be on
her Mothers account who she seems very desirous to see,
I have enclos'd her letter to dear to Dear Sue so that you
will have an opportunity of seeing it; I was exceeding^ly
concern'd to find by your letter the great disappoint-
-ment our worthy Friend M.^r Baynham had meet with
occasion'd by the Death of M^r [E Lee] present my most resp
-ectful compliments & tell him I do most sincerely
sympathize with him and hope that kind Providence
will raise up another in his room and^thatfortune will
smite upon him and hope the latter part of his life
may be as happy as his Hearts desires, as I think
I have sufficiently tir'd you with my nonsense I will
have compassion on you & will only beg my affec^t Comp^ts
to M^rs Withers & Son, & be assur'd I am and ever will be

y^r affec^t Friend

M T
[Mary Tucker]

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PS
My Poor Brother left this about four months ago on his
way to America, but whether he is gone yet or not
I cannot hear

M^r Withers
Cop^t Hall Court N^o9
Throgmorton Street behind the Exchange
London
p^r favor of
Cap^tn Lee

Barbadoes June 9 1780
Miss Tucker
Recd Sep^r 1