Bowden Park <1>
1 March 33
My dear Sir,
I am much obliged by your letter <2> of Yesterday not less so for your proposal to share in the expenses of our mutual projection forestalled or rather anticipated by our well intentioned friend Mc Adams <3> and although the outset was unfavourable I by no means despair if followed up of our ultimate success persuaded that steady and resolute perseverance in what is fair, reasonable, just, and right to be done will in the end gain not only popularity but esteem of this I can speak from grateful experience under all circumstances what with the employment given by you and myself (having had from twenty to thirty men draining, levelling, banking &c) added to the Farmers wanting Men for getting in their Lent corn the necessity for Mc Adams Men does not exist as it did, and therefore may be deferred till the Autumn but I am persuaded an over ruling over bearing spirit prevails amongst certain Individuals most injurious to the improvement and well being of your parish a feeling of selfish opposition and narrow minded feeling; affluent themselves they object to any attempt to improvement by which others will benefit resisting every outlay from which no immediate return is obtained not contemplating ultimate advantage with such I have had to contend in Herts and having succeeded in my plans have often since received their warm thanks
3 March I find your list for Gardens extended towards small Tradesmen in Lacock this is quite foreign to my plan intending to be confined to the poor only
Mr Moore <4> has I find called a Vestry on Friday next which I fully mean to attend should any thing occur to you be good enough to write me
I quite concur as to the pest House and as to the Gardens will assist in any way I can but find my land is not good enough.
I am my dear Sir Yours most truly
Ez Harman
Moore is subpoened in a cause at Salisbury expected to be called on Monday or Tuesday we therefore posponed the vestry till the FridayNotes:
1. Bowden Park, Wiltshire, 1 mi SE of Lacock.
2. Letter not located.
3. 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).
4. Thomas Moore (possibly d. 1854), member of the Lacock Parish Vestry.