Chippenham ^<1>

24^{d <2>} Jan^y 1828 –

Dear Sir –

I laid the whole of the correspondence between M^r Bush & myself, relative to M^r Sheppard’s Rent, before M^r Michell ^<3> – and it was a satisfaction to me to find, that he entertained no doubt whatever on the subject – The Letter from M^r Bush he considered a complete undertaking to pay the Rent – He has written to M^r Bush to that effect – but I am sorry to say with no better success than myself – the answer being a complete evasion of the principal Question & only repeating that he had not received any money for M^r Sheppard, as he expected to have done when he wrote to me – it seems that M^r Sheppard has been on the Continent for a considerable time & therefore we should not have had any means of serving him with Process – which is so far satisfactory as to proving that you have not been injured by M^r Bush having written his first Letter –

M^r Michell desires me to say that he could not recommend an Action against M^r Bush for a Debt of £15– because the taxed Costs would certainly not cover the expences. & I shall therefore hope that M^r Sheppard may return from the Continent & give me an opportunity of recovering the Debt from him – I shall not fail to keep up an Enquiry on that head –

I remain Dear Sir
Y^r Obliged & Obed^t Ser^t

W. H. Awdry

P.S
Pray be so kind as to remember the Paper Books when at leisure – before you leave the Abbey –

W. H. F. Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey

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Notes:

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

2. 22^d overwritten.

3. Edward Michell, solicitor, Chippenham.