Chippenham ^<1>

12^th Feb^ry 1834

Dear Sir/

Fitzsimmons ^<2> appears quite on the alert respecting the Wall & the Men who have undertaken to watch, are, I have no doubt, equally so, in order to share in the £5 – but as yet, no one has been discovered –

I will attend to your instructions as to settling the Book, till you mention to the contrary –

I have seen M^r Alexander ^<3> & he informs me, that your Present to the Literary Institution, was all right according to the List, & that they were the sort of Books which were wanted – I understood from him, that M^r Neeld ^<4> & yourself had been appointed Patrons of the Institution – of which I presume you are to be informed officially & that the Books will then be acknowledged in due form – M^r Neeld has not yet made his Present – when I hear what it is, I will let you know –

I am sorry to say, that I shall have a Tenant to find for Reybridge ^<5> Cottage, after the ensuing Summer, the Place is considered too cold for M^rs Awdry in the Winter & my Cousin ^<6> is talking of looking for a Place in the Neighbourhood of Clifton ^<7> –

I am Dear Sir
Y^r obliged Ser^t

W. H. Awdry

W. H. F. Talbot Esq
M.P

31 Sackville Street
Piccadilly
London

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Notes:

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

2. Cornelius Fitzsimmons, Scottish gardener at Lacock Abbey.

3. H Head Alexander, Secretary, Chippenham Literary & Scientific Institution.

4. Joseph Neeld (1789–1856), MP & botanist.

5. Reybridge, Wiltshire, 1 mi N of Lacock.

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

7. Clifton, Bristol, on the Avon Gorge.