Chippenham ^<1>
8^th May 1833

Dear Sir,

I attended the adjourned Vestry at Lacock yesterday – respecting the Plan of a Workhouse &c – & I have now to report Proceedings, for your consideration –

M^r John Awdry ^<2> was in the Chair – He very much wished that the thing should be deferr’d till it was known, whether the government would be able to do any thing in regard to the Poor Laws – as he said, it appeared to him undesirable to begin any system, just at the Moment when something on a national plan might be looked for & as Lord Althorp ^<3> had announced that something would be attempted, he thought a Parochial Plan would be likely to work better, if begun in conjunction with one, emanating from government – I believe I have detailed as nearly as possible, the purport of his observations –

on the other hand, M^r Harman ^<4> & the rest of the Vestry thought it most adviseable, [sic] to commence building the Workhouse this Summer – M^r H considered that it was very improbable government would be able to do much in the present Session at all events & he thought under any System that could be proposed, it must be very essential to have a Workhouse in the Parish, in order to check idleness &^c – & Tho^s Moore ^<5> considered that the Money would be well laid out, even to pay interest, for that there was so great a want of House room for the Poor, at present – he was sometimes obliged to put a family who were brought home from another Place, into a public House – as a temporary accomodation & it was considered that the Place House would always fetch the Money expended, if to be let for Cottage residences –

M^r John Awdry was consequently in a Minority of one, w^ch he bore with great good humour & the Vestry would I believe, have proceeded immediately with the consideration of the Contract – but as we had not heard from you since the time when you wished the Contract to be postponed – I did not feel myself satisfied to go further, until I had reported the present Proceedings for your consideration – & M^r Harman being about to go to Town for a few days, said he would endeavour in the mean time to ascertain, whether Ministers had any Plan in contemplation at present & it was finally agreed, to hold another Vestry, on the 27^th Ins^t – when they proposed to decide upon the subject – Previous to this time, they will feel obliged by a communication of your sentiments & they will also I think be glad to receive any report which you may be able to procure as to the intentions of Government on to do anything in the present Session – it may enable them to weigh one against the other w^ch is sometimes advantageous –

I am Sir Y^r obliged Sev^t
W. A. Awdry

W H F Talbot Esq M. P.
29 Albemarle Street ^<6>
London

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Notes:

1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.

2. John Awdry (1766–1844), solicitor, Reybridge.

3. John Charles Spencer, Viscount Althorp, 3^rd Earl of Spencer (1782–1845), politician.

4. Ezekiel Harman.

5. Thomas Moore (possibly d. 1854), member of the Lacock Parish Vestry.

6. WHFT lived at this London address, just down the street from the Royal Institution, for half of April and the whole of May, 1833.