Bowden Park <1>
10 March 33
Dear Sir
You will doubtless have heard the unanimous resolve of our Vestry on Friday to accede to your proposal of sending Messrs Clarke & Moone to Uley <2> to collect all the information they can as to the plans and arrangements of the parish that we may be enabled to ascertain how far it may be applied to the parish of Lacock with advantage and ultimate economy and the general opinion appeared in favor of their going without loss of time as the Season for improvement has arrived and many of the poor might be usefully & beneficially employed in any works decided upon whether altering old or building new, Your assent therefore to prompt measures would be desirable I mean the expedition of Messr C & M –
I availed of the opportunity to state to the vestry my general sentiments on the subject and my decided approbation of the the <sic> plan of putting the parish roads and paths in order by the labour of the poor being directed to that object and adverted to the Young Man sent down by Mr McAdams <3> for that purpose but that however well meant it was (an act of his own from the best motives to serve me) although quite premature and that finding it had created an unpleasant feeling from an impression that he was forced upon the parishioners I sent him back – I named Nash Hill <4> as one part of the parish needs demanding their attention that the Tenants paid Rates and were equally intitled to accommodation and that it might be enforced by enditement <5> road across the common by Melksham <6> Farm was also named and the objection might be obverted of leading traffic off the Right road by putting a Bar at the Northern end of the Lane – I did not think it desirable to mix other matters with the business of the day about which we met as I had some observations to make which are better transferred to another meeting – Should you be down at Easter You could attend a vestry called as your presence on matters of such importance would be very desirable and have its due weight –
I have been draining my land <illegible deletion> near the upper hedge and was informed I had cut off one of the sources of supply to Your Conduit this Mr Blackorn & myself minutely examined Yesterday morning and I have suggested an improved increase from a much more abundant spring and the other to be added also if he finds it necessary – I have met with some leaden pipes in my wood leading to the abbey & have directed posts to be placed to prevent injury – I am sure Members of the Commons House have no sinecure where they do their duty it is sadly injurious to the health to keep late hours in a hot house we have manifest proof of this in the last Sessions
I do indeed regret no intimation of a Bill as yet appears relative to the poor Laws it is however the move necessary for Country Gentlemen to exert themselves and Truly believe if this more generally done the aid of Government would not be required except to consolidate or to enforce a certain low rate to pay towards the reduction of the higher putting the Ratio throughout the country upon a certain Scale
Is there likely to be poor Laws established in Ireland to prevent the massive influx of Men women & children to this Country as it has cost this County alone above £1000 to convey the Irish poor through the County to Bristol – this calls loudly for reform permit me to trouble you to forward the inclosed and believe me my dr Sir
Yours most truly
Ez Harman
H. F. Talbot Esqr M. P.
Sackville Street
31 London
address of the enclosed –
John Hoper Esq
Lewes
Sussex
Notes:
1. Bowden Park, Wiltshire, 1 mi SE of Lacock.
2. Parish and village in the Cotswolds, county of Gloucestershire. [See Doc. No: 02596].
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. Nash Hill, also Naish Hill, a hill and farm 1 mi NE of Lacock, Wiltshire.
5. Obsolete form of ‘indictment’.
6. Melksham, Wiltshire: market town near Lacock, 2 miles S.