Chippenham <1>
Tuesday night
Dear Sir,
When I called on Alexander the Printer <2>, I found that he had been apprized of the Business by Mr Michell <3> – & with a view to the future prospects of the Town – he strongly advised sending Letters to the Inhabitants generally so I ordered 300 – Letters – & those to the Burgage <4> Houses are to be sent to night if practicable & the rest left for Mr Michell’s direction – Mr M– is gone from home, but I hope to see him in the morning, but you will probably not get a Messenger at Lacock quite so early in consequence –
The Malmsbury Letters are locked up
I am Dear Sir
Yr obliged Servt
W. H. Awdry
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Richard Alexander, watchmaker & bookseller, Chippenham. [See Doc. No: 02317].
3. Edward Michell, solicitor, Chippenham.
4. A tenure in socage for a yearly rent: a tenure in Scotland in royal burghs under nominal service of watching.