My dear Henry
I am at a loss to answer your Question about your Horses having never hired any by the week – some difficulty about the Duty makes it more expensive – I believe that for a week only they are obliged to pay Day Duty – but I am not sure – By the month (4 weeks) you may get Horses from 20. to 25£, according to the Demand & time of year – now they ought to be cheap as their Food is remarkably so – Coachman, Board 14/ wages if you pay them 10/6 materials for cleaning 3/6 lodging 3/6 for wearing his clothes 7/– I do not think you will have the wages to pay – certainly not for a short Time & your best way will be to make the Jobman undertake all that – There are two or three in Bond St Cripps is the man I deal with I advise you however to see several & hear what they offer to serve you for – making it clear they are to pay everything I have mentioned – Thomas Moore <1> write to you he [illegible] fully on all the Parish concerns – it appears that very few are out of employ now – but when any are certainly it is much better to employ them on the roads than not at all I have proposed a scheme to Moore for making them work when they are there, which may be useful but too long to explain now – How are you off for Rain – here we have Plenty – I never saw the water higher since we lived here than it was yesterday. – my love to Constance <2>
Yr aff
CF.
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
31 Sackville St
London
Notes:
1. Thomas Moore (possibly d. 1854), member of the Lacock Parish Vestry.
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.