HN2/B3/19/13

Letter from John Thomas Brooks to John Green enclosing letter from George Brooks to his father, which in turn encloses notes from John Hatfield Brooks to his brother, and a copy of reply from J T Brooks to George.

21 Sept 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

J H Brooks cannot take out more life insurance, would cost him £750 annually to make up the amount of his bond and is already fully insured. Wishes J T Brooks to make codicil to his will. Johnnie would prefer the entail cut off , & settled on someone else, & the conditional bond for £5000 (in case of his death before his father) entered into immediately. Robert Bird may proceed to law. J T Brooks, in his letter to Green, refuses idea of mortgage in the case of Johnnie’s death in order to raise the amount for the bond as ‘…I should have to pay £250 per year interest – which … would be a serious evil to me – and it is against my creed which is that every man is bound by honour & honesty to take care & provide for his own wife & children in this I cannot see that I am wrong.’ In his letter to George he declares his ignorance and fear of the law ‘…I cannot see why Capt Bird should dictate to me, or how his law proceedings against Johnnie (if he shall unfortunately commence them) can drag me into the vortex – I should consider such an evil or the most grievous of misfortunes – regarding the officials of the law with the horror I do (for they speak an unknown tongue which none but there own clique can understand) I would as carefully avoid their gripe as I would that of the Devil himself – and that is why the very name of the Court of chancery resounded fearfully in my ear…’

item

Brooks, John Thomas,
Green, John,
Brooks, George Henry,
Brooks, John Hatfield,
Bird, Robert Wilberforce

insurance, Chancery