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XD2/4845

LETTER: Thomas Dyke, Lennox Place, Brighton, to Lord Newborough informing his Lordship that when he was in London he had informed Mr. Slater of the contents of H.H. Werninck’s letter re the pecuniary circumstances of his brother Thomas. These circumstances were to be anticipated because of Thomas’ ’pro-wife’, family of infants and horse racing. He was surprised to learn from Mr. Slater that they could not avail themselves of Thomas’ bond which he thought in case of not recovering the legacy advanced to Schroder would indemnify them for the great pecuniary loss. If they seized Schroder’s furniture they could not sell it. Therefore the only sources that remained was the interest on the trust fund which might arise during the joint lives of Mr. and Mrs. Schroder. He was not, however, certain that the joint bond would be good in law as Mrs. Schroder at the time of execution was a ’femme covert’ and incapable (even jointly with her husband showing his assent) of executing any instrument. It seemed that they had been victimised by Roberts to the interests of the Schroders. Their infants had, as a result of proceedings in Chancery, become Wards of Court. One consolatery event had occurred, on Mr. Slater’s motion the Court had stopped the future payment of dividends to the Schroders which might straighten their means of subsistence and for them to offer terms of arrangement at least so far as to enable them to discharge Slater’s bills of costs against them. He had abandoned any hope of getting back any portion of the money they had paid into the Court of Chancery and would be relieved not to have to pay any more money. They would shortly be asked to pay the taxed costs of Stevens (the late trustee) which would be about £300, and he was prepared to pay his portion. Any reply to H.H. Werninck’s proposal was rendered unnecessary by a letter from him that morning which stated that he and his brother Thomas had arranged all their pecuniary disagreements and that they should not have further applications from them. H.H. Werninck was also endeavouring to pay the remaining balance of £100 immediately. He hoped that H.H. Werninck was also going to pay all Roberts’ costs and charges occasioned by the loan. He did not like Roberts. He encloses two letters from H.H. Werninck (7 April and 14 July 1847). [N.L.W. Glynllivon 2715.]