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Document number: 4668
Date: 14 Dec 1842
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: KING William Charles
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number: envelope 20395
Collection number historic: LA42-88
Last updated: 9th December 2010

Dear Sir

I have read your letter with the best attention and the only conclusion I can come to is that you are legally liable to pay Henley <1> the amount of the value of his services for work labour & material – you have altered his machine & cannot return it to him in the state you had it even if no unreasonable [illegible deletion] time had passed since it was delivered to you –

The simple question therefore would be what sum is to be paid for the value of his services – are you prepared to fix that sum and satisfy a jury by the examination of indifferent witnesses that such sum is the fair value – I say are you prepared because tho’ the onus would fall on him to prove his case you may be sure he will get his own friends into the Box to swear in his favor & you must produce your witnesses to contradict his – If you are quite satisfied that you can fix such a sum as is fair & you can establish then I would suggest that we should make him a tender of such amount and leave him to bring his action at his peril – as a matter of course he could give up all your property should you pay him but I do not know that you can demand a receipt in full of all demands tho’ most probably he would not refuse to give the same on your paying for the stamp

I presume he has delivered you his Bill & if you decide to settle the matter please send us the same and an account of all the Articles he is to deliver up –

I am much obliged to you for your inquiries as to my Father who is at Brighton & quite well

I am dear Sir
yours truly
Wm Chas King

Serjts Inn Fleet St
14 Dec. 1842.

W H F Talbot Esq.

[envelope:]
W. H Fox Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham


Notes:

1. William Thomas Henley (1814–1882), instrument maker.

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