The various Accounts for which you ask shall be sent you in a post or two – tomorrow if possible Your letter of this morning has put beyond a doubt my former opinion of your intention (vizt) to get rid of me so soon as it suited your convenience. It is useless blinking the matter and I must therefore beg to be excused for speaking plainly The fact of our Agreement for two years altho’ you never fulfilled your promise of signing a specific Agreement in Writing, is yet amply attested and I can legally insist on its performance but as I have no wish to thrust myself or my services on any one to whom either would be unpalatable so I am willing to forego any claim to another years Engagement provided I am dealt with fairly & honourable. I shall have [illegible deletion] earned very hardly my £100 by the end of the first year and if I were to consent to be turned suddenly adrift without notice, after having sacrificed a part of my own business to enter into this I should be doing myself a manifest injustice In all fairness therefore I should require some compensation but do not wish to be dictating terms or indeed to be chargeable with acting in any way offensively or disrespectfully but I have duties which I owe to myself and my Children as well as to others and must beg to add that I trust your dealings with me in future will be characterized by candour and plain speaking.
I am Sir Yr very obt Sert
B. Cowderoy
P. S. As I have before stated, I am quite ready to meet a London Accountant. I have however just received tidings of the dangerous illness (from a fit of apoplexy) of a new Relative. My Sister is gone over instater to Overton Hants where she is residing and I am fearful I may hear fatal news in a day or two – In that case I may be called away for a day or two – I mention this lest such an [ill. del.] event happening at the time of any appointment might create suspicion of any unwillingness to meet it or to subject you to any annoyance
[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Wilts
Chippenham