Bowden Park <1>
28 Jany 1850
My dear Talbot
A Friend of mine, Henry Merewether, <2> who is a Lawyer, and Recorder of Devizes, and a vy clever agreeable and amiable Man, has bought of me the little Estate of the Griffins, at the top of Brode Hill, in order to build himself on it a superior kind of College. as a Residence for the rest of his days.
There is a small Patch of garden, apparently taken out of the common, belonging to you, close adjoining this Boundary: occupied I believe by a Man named Matthew Tucker. This bit of Land, if it were in the hands of a disagreeable Person. might be a great annoyance to him, and he has asked me to apply to you on his behalf, to allow him to become your Tenant, for any Period you may choose.
I do not of course wish to trouble you on this matter: for if you approve, your Man of Business would deal with Merewether, but he did not like to apply to anyone, without at once directly acquainting you with his object and asking your sanction in the first place.
Believe me yours vy truly
T H S Sotheron
[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Bowden Hill, Wiltshire, 1 mi SE of Lacock.
2. Henry Alworth Merewether, jnr (1813–1877), JP, author & Recorder for Devizes.