LETTER XXXII
MR. JAMES HARLOWE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.HARLOWE-PLACE, FRIDAY NIGHT, SEPT. 15.
SIR,
I hope, from the character my worthy cousin Morden gives you, that youwill excuse the application I make to you, to oblige a whole family inan affair that much concerns their peace, and cannot equally concern anybody else. You will immediately judge, Sir, that this is theexecutorship of which my sister has given you the trouble by her lastwill.
We shall all think ourselves extremely obliged to you, if you please torelinquish this trust to our own family; the reasons which followpleading for our own expectation of this favour from you:
First, because she never would have had the thought of troubling you,Sir, if she had believed any of her near relations would have taken itupon themselves.
Secondly, I understand that she recommends to you in the will to trustto the honour of any of our family, for the performance of such of thearticles as are of a domestic nature. We are, any of us, and all of us,if you request it, willing to stake our honours upon this occasion; andall you can desire, as a man of honour, is, that the trust be executed.
We are the more concerned, Sir, to wish you to decline this office,because of your short and accidental knowledge of the dear testatrix, andlong and intimate acquaintance with the man to whom she owed her ruin,and we the greatest loss and disappointment (her manifold excellenciesconsidered) that ever befell a family.
You will allow due weight, I dare say, to this plea, if you make our caseyour own; and so much the readier, when I assure you, that yourinterfering in this matter, so much against our inclinations, (excuse,Sir, my plain dealing,) will very probably occasion an opposition in somepoints, where otherwise there might be none.
What, therefore, I propose is, not that my father should assume thistrust; he is too much afflicted to undertake it--nor yet myself--I mightbe thought too much concerned in interest; but that it might be allowedto devolve upon my two uncles; whose known honour, and whose affection tothe dear deceased, nobody every doubted; and they will treat with you,Sir, through my cousin Morden, as to the points they will undertake toperform.
The trouble you have already had will well entitle you to the legacy shebequeaths you, together with the re-imbursement of all the charges youhave been at, and allowance of the legacies you have discharged, althoughyou should not have qualified yourself to act as an executor, as Ipresume you have not yet done, nor will now do.
Your compliance, Sir, will oblige a family, (who have already distressenough upon them,) in the circumstance that occasions this application toyou, and more particularly, Sir,
Your most humble servant,JAMES HARLOWE, JUN.
I send this by one of my servants, who will attend your dispatch.