Chippenham <1>
23d June 1837
Dear Sir /
Since the rect of your Letter, I have had two Interviews with Mr Hunt, on the subject of the Sand – & I have now recd an offer from him wch is as follows – viz
The Sand to be raised by you & delivered to his Carts in the Field at 9d pr Ton – He expects that he shall want from 4 to 5 thousand Tons –
I have talked with Blackham on the subject & find that it will cost you 6d pr Ton to raise the Sand – besides something for his own time in superintending it – & he thinks it ought to be sold for at least 1s/– pr Ton – the making the Ground good, will cost but little if the work is done by our own People, & this I should venture to recommend on many accounts, & as preventing the chance of future disagreements, wch might be the case, if strangers were to be employed in the raising the Sand –
When you have made up your mind upon the subject, I shall be happy to hear from you & communicate your answer to Mr Hunt –
I have endeavor’d, with Blackhams assistance, to trace the whole affair to the source – relative to the taking the Sand at Nash Hill <2> – for altho’ the value of it, does not amount to five shillings, the circumstances attending it, were so impudent & extraordinary, that it seems necessary to take it up seriously – & as I have now got the name of the Person who received the Sand & have seen one of the men who took it, I think I may be able to give you all Particulars in the course of next Week. –
I remain Dear Sir Yr obliged Sert
W. H. Awdry
Mrs Talbot <3> was so obliging as to send me this morning – the favorable report which she had recd from you, relative to Admiral Fielding <4> – I should hope that the attack of Gout, must be a proof of strength in his general constitution –
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
31 Sackville Street
Picadilly [sic]
London
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Nash Hill, also Naish Hill, a hill and farm 1 mi NE of Lacock, Wiltshire.
3. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
4. Misspelling of Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.