Chippenham <1>
April 12th
Dear Sir,
I understand that I have been named as a Member of the Committee for the improvement of the Town by lighting Watching &c – I have not yet attended any of the Meetings upon the subject & therefore can not say what may be expected from you as one of the M. Ps for the Borough – but my individual opinion is, that we have no claim upon you Whatever, in a pecuniary way – I think the Subscription from Mr Neeld <2> a very proper one, as a large Proprietor of Houses in the Town – which will be necessarily increased in value by the proposed measure – but I decidedly object upon principle, to asking Members for Subscriptions <illegible deletion> unless they have Property in the Place to be benefited by the Funds – & should the subject be mentioned at any Meeting which I may have to attend, I shall not hesitate to state this opinion –
I am Dear Sir
Yr obliged Sert
W. A. Awdry
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Joseph Neeld (1789–1856), MP & botanist.