Bowden Park <1>
17th Feby 33
Dear Sir
I have been daily looking for a letter from you on the subject of your proposed plan of sending the Poor to Uley <2> and that a vestry might have been called for the purpose of taking the matter into consideration or adopting some other which might have a present and ulterior benefit as well to the paupers as the parish at the same time coupling the question of employment of the labouring poor under the direction of Mr Tatem sent by Mc Adams <3> who was with me several times and in the hope that something might be done I agreed to his staying a few days but hearing nothing conclusive from you and finding a feeling amongst the Farmers existed decidedly inimical to our plan I proposed his returning to town The Farmers I believe were annoyed at his coming down before the matter had been discussed the I confess I think it was both ill-judged and impolitic in <Mr A?> and at which I was at first vexed <illegible> as it appeared as if we were going to cram Mc Adams down their throat whether they approved or not, but I am much inclined to doubt their compliance even had they been consulted in vestry and I regret to say they are cautious where I should not have expected it – Nash Hill <4> seems to stick in their gizzards and because it never has been so it never is to be put in a fit and proper state and in this particular we have galled them the feeling being decidedly against its improvement which is unjust in the extreme as it is an old and ancient road and might under good management be put in a very improved state and is decidedly inditable <sic> if you chuse to do so in short having requested Mr Tatem to look over the Roads & paths to enable him to give us information if required he has completely confirmed my impression that much wants doing the Farmers now say Barley sowing is coming on and they can employ the Men but they forget or rather omit the number I now employ who will in a few weeks be thrown upon their hands and I must say they have behaved very ungratefully in taking the superintending Man for trifling matters and leaving the labourers to work or not this is treating me so unhandsomely after agreeing they were to be constantly attended but I am more than half inclined to dismiss them altogether but as long as the burden is taken off their own shoulders they are satisfied
I am Dr Sir in haste
most truly yours
Ez Harman
Notes:
1. Bowden Park, Wiltshire, 1 mi SE of Lacock.
2. See Doc. No: 02555.
3. A misspelling for John Loudon McAdam (1756–1836), Scottish engineer, inventor of process for consolidating the road surface with small stones, especially when bound by tar (Macadamisation; hence tarmac). [See Doc. No: 02592].
4. Nash Hill, also Naish Hill, a hill and farm 1 mi NE of Lacock, Wiltshire.