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Dec 19. 62

Gladst

I h^ve rec^d y^r l^r of the 16^th inst As I find m^sf alm ent^rly w^out infⁿ on the suj^t of to w^ch y. call my attⁿ I h^ve wrⁿ to WA requesting him t giv me a _the Neccess^y part^rs. I am sure y will not expect me When I h^ve rec^d them if it appears tht there is nothing in the plan w^ch can operate to the disadv^tge of future incumb^ts of Lacock, I shll be willing to consent to the change proposed, but at present the subj^t has not bⁿ suff^y expl^nd to me to enable m to say more

We are spend^g the winter in Edinb M^rs T. & my d^rs send their kind regards to y^r family

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December 19, 1862

Gladstone

I have received your letter of the sixteenth inst. ^<1> As I find myself almost entirely without influence on the subject of to which you call my attention I have written to West Awdry ^<2> requesting him to give me a the necessary particulars. I am sure you will not expect me When I have received them if it appears that there is nothing in the plan which can operate to the disadvantage of future incumbants of Lacock, I shall be willing to consent to the change proposed, but at present the subject has not been sufficiently explained to me to enable me to say more.

We are spending the winter in Edinburgh. M^rs Talbot and my daughters ^<3> send their kind regards to your family.

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Notes:

1. See Doc. No: 08623.

2. West Awdry (1807–1892), solicitor, Chippenham.

3. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife, and their three daughters, Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter, and Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.