| Description | Letter, dated 12 January and written from Taunton in which he surmises that, as she is now in Chilcompton, she will not have received the letter from him which he had sent to her in London. He therefore proceeds to send her appended to this letter a copy of his earlier letter dated 8 January. The letter is signed 'Henry Jas Leigh' and is addressed to Miss Kersteman at Mr or Mrs Merchant's, Chilcompton near Old Down'.
The lengthy copy letter concerns her imminent marriage to James Merchant 'now, or late in the employ of Mr Everington of Ludgate Hill'. As her friend, he advises her to make appropriate arrangements with regard to her property in order to secure her, and her future husband, 'against all possible contingencies, the future means of comfortable, or, at least, of sufficient livelihood' . As her future husband is 'in Trade' or about to 'embark in Trade', he suggests that it is particularly important to make provision 'against the vicissitudes of Fortune'. He offers a lengthy legal opinion about the disposition of her property which includes the proposal that a minimum of half of her fortune should be settled in the name of four trustees. He suggests that the letter be shown to Mr Merchant who, if 'a sensible and honorable man and influenced by proper motives', will consent to such a settlement. He also offers help with drawing up a deed and suggests names of potential trustees. This letter was sent in the knowledge that her relatives in the neighbourhood, particularly her mother and Harry, her brother, had expressed concern about her future. |