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Document number: 02083
Date: Sat 27 Nov 1830
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: FEILDING Elisabeth Theresa, née Fox Strangways
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA30-48
Last updated: 8th March 2012

Saturday 27 Novr

My dear Henry

Having heard from good authority that Mr Watson Taylor <1> has had an entire Farm & Buildings burnt to the ground, <2> and of a regular fight in the middle of the night at Mr Coote’s <3> near Fordingbridge which mob may very probably proceed westward, we think it best to despatch two Police Constables by to nights mail & if you have received Mr Feildings <4> [parcel?] you will not be surprized. At any rate if you do not like to have them, you can send them back & no harm done. It is only a question of expence which put in competition with your safety, or even my nervousness, is nothing. They are directed to make known their arrival at the Abbey to you only because if you think best to make it known that is easily done, & depends entirely on your view of the case. It may be better the people should know you are supported, or you may not chuse to have it [so?] so there it is to be disposed of as you think best. My brother <5> it seems has agreed to lower his rents & so has Mr Portman, but not the rest of the Dorsetshire Gentlemen, and Mr Frampton <6> says he will not, & that they have done a great deal of harm in mooting such a question. Sir Charles Lemon <7> has just been here & says no power should make him promise any thing for the future whatever he might give them at the moment. Sir C. says that all the promises that have been made in different part of the Kingdom will impede the settlement of the question which must be done by an entire recasting of the Poor Laws & laws of settlement, & that then labourers would have the power of carrying their labour to the best market, instead of being confined to their Parish. It seems Lord Gage <8> has been induced to promise his labourers 15 Shillings a week, a promise he can only keep by employing fewer. However you are on the spot & can judge for yourself. Have there been any [illegible] Meetings in Wiltshire of the magistrates? Mr F. was all yesterday Evening going about to the Police offices & all this morning, as there was some difficulty in procuring them, they are such demand [sic] at present. Mr F. at last succeeded in getting two very intelligent men, but there is a difficulty now in getting cutlasses for them, they are so bought up at this moment. Mr F. has given them £2 ·· 10S. · 0D on account, & they have 5 Shillings a day, or as much as people please according as they do, which is much cheaper than I expected. Last night at Mrs Hope’s it was reported that Mr Bennett <9> the Member for Wiltshire, was dead of his wounds, but it turns out not to be true. They say Parliament is to be adjourned that Members may have time to go to their homes & look after their concerns. Wm <10> is going down tonight to help [illegible deletion] take care of Theresa <11> to Melbury <12>

Since writing the enclosed I find they have been burning at Stinsford & they are in alarm at Melbury, because they seem now inclined to attack houses, & John <13> is going to escort Theresa up. These men who are going down to you will have presence of mind because they are used to the kind of thing. The Eleven men so horribly wounded by Mr Coote was done [sic] entirely be Swords. They say they cannot live to be hanged & I hope will intimidate the others. I hope you will approve of what we have done, as if they do attack houses (& they have two) you would be uncomfortably situated & I should be miserable –

God Bless you Write every day

Lord Suffolk <14> I hear this moment has taken 9 people, & every where it seems they are not the people of the place but those from a distance

Pray write write

London, Novr twenty seven 1830 Mr C Lemon
H. Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock abbey
Chippenham
Wilts


Notes:

1. Simon Watson Taylor, MP; sat for Devizes, 1857–1859.

2. This refers to the riots that started in Kent towards the end of August, and spread through the southern counties of Sussex, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Somerset. They were also known as the ‘Swing Riots’ due to the signature of Captain Swing which appeared at the bottom of a number of threatening letters written at the time and were prompted by a decline in the prices of agricultural produce and wages. Hundred of rioters destroyed new threshing machines, which they felt were taking away their winter work and they put pressure on the church to reduce the amount in tithes it took from the farmers.

3. Sir Eyre Coote (1762–1823). [See Doc. No: 02093].

4. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.

5. Probably Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).

6. James Frampton (1769–1855), High Sheriff.

7. Sir Charles Lemon (1784–1868), politician & scientist; WHFT’s uncle.

8. Probably Henry Hall Gage, 4th Viscount Gage (1791–1877).

9. John Bennett, MP; sat for Wiltshire from 1819 to 1852.

10. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.

11. Probably Theresa Anna Maria Digby, née Fox Strangways (1814–1874), WHFT’s cousin.

12. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.

13. John George Charles Fox Strangways (1803–1859), MP.

14. Charles John Howard, 17th Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire (1804-1876).