London
19 Feb 1833
My Dear Mr F.
Are you not satisfied with the Irish Church Reform Bill? <1> I suppose tithes are going to be commuted for ever & the name of them extinguished. O’Connell <2> is grown very bitter against Government & against England, it is because he see Lord Grey’s <3> bill is a deathblow to his power.
I wish you would send me a sketch of what you & Gwynne <4> think my weekly bills for housekeeping ought to amount to. The Servants are now on board wages, except the cook, & the charwoman who only breakfasts here: as the underhousemaid helps in the kitchen in the afternoon.
I am afraid the farmers will prove averse to every scheme of improving the Poor that I can possibly devise. Who would have thought they could have objected to improving the road at Nash Hill, <5> thro’ jealousy setting aside expense? I have asked Mr Awdry <6> to give his attention to these subjects, & confer with you upon them, it being more than I can possibly do at present to correspond with all parties interested.
Thos Moore <7> instead of a full account (as you said) wrote me only a mere scrap of a letter a few lines saying next to nothing.
Yours affly
Henry
Notes:
1. See Doc. No: 02602, Doc. No: 02624, Doc. No: 02725.
2. Daniel O’Connell (1775–1847), politician, Irish nationalist.
3. Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (1764–1845), statesman.
4. Mrs Gwynne (d. winter 1841/1842), lady’s maid, cook and housekeeper to Elisabeth Feilding.
5. Wiltshire.
6. Probably William Henry Awdry (1778–1847), solicitor, Chippenham.
7. Thomas Moore (possibly d. 1854), member of the Lacock Parish Vestry.