Chippenham ^<1>
23^d Nov 1829

Dear Sir,

Since I wrote last, I have been in some perplexity about Inlands Farm – for I was really fearful at one time, that I must have applied to you again for Instructions upon the subject – There has been such a depression in all agricultural concerns within the last few months, owing to (I apprehend) in a great measure to the stagnation of Trade & the want of consumption by the Manufacturers that there seems a sort of Panic amongst the Farmers – not only, are the Prices of Produce reduced greatly, but what is still worse they can hardly find Customers at hardly any price – I ascertained decidedly that David Clark ^<2> was not the man mentioned by Cap^t F – on the contrary that he has a Father who is a Man of Property – but to my vexation, I found that he wanted to make new terms – at the same time I was informed that Beaver had taken another farm – However, after all, I have succeeded in obtaining 45/ p^r acre from Clark & he signed a Memorandum to that effect on Saturday last – I have agreed to allow him £10– for draining next year in a part of the Farm where it is much wanted & have promised to get him a little additional shilling near the Farm, w^ch can be done at a trifling expence & will be a great improvement to the Farm yard – altogether it is quite a relief to my mind that the Farm is let, for there is much a clamour in all quarters about Farmers being ruined, that I was very apprehensive at one time it would not have been practicable to let it on the first terms offered – With regard to the 25 acres let to the Parish, we have taken care to select such part of the Farm as it will be most convenient to spare, the Fields are in the Corsham ^<3> Road & one of them not so good as some other parts – but I told Moore ^<4>, that I had no trouble of having been able to let all together at the same price & therefore I cannot expect 45/ p^r acre for these – Stephen Fussell (who is ChurchWarden) has agreed to be the Tenant responsible to you, w^ch I preferred to the overseer, who are more frequently changed – & Crocker had agreed with the Parish to give up the Winter feed, for a compensation, in order that the Poor may be set to work as soon as possible – for such a number of idle hands is a sad thing in every point of view –

I have remitted £300 – to Hammersleys ^<5> & paid the same amount to Gundrys ^<6> on your Account – & will you be kind enough to inform Capt Feilding ^<7> that (not having any instructions to the contrary) I made his remittance to M^r Stillwell ^<8> as usual – I have sent your present to Marchant & will attend to your directions about McPhail ^<9> & the Groom – I have sold the Underwood at Taclemore to John Gale ^<10> at £9·9·0 p^r acre w^ch I consider a very fair price & am glad to have him for the Purchaser instead of a Stranger – I have been in much distress within the last few weeks, by the illness & death of a Son – the one who assisted me in my office & of such an age as to make it a heavy loss – but I am thankful in saying that another Son who has lately began practice in this place as a Solicitor, has arranged to assist me in future, w^ch great comfort to me as with the mass of money that is continually passing thro’ my hands it would have been very unpleasant to have had a stranger in my office –

I remain Dear Sir Y^r most obliged Ser^t
W.H. Awdry

W.H.F. Talbot Esq
Post Office
Newcastle
Northumberland
York

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Notes:

1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.

2. David Clark, of Inlands Farme, near Lacock.

3. Corsham Court, Wiltshire, 3 mi NW of Lacock: seat of Ld Methuen.

4. Thomas Moore (possibly d. 1854), member of the Lacock Parish Vestry.

5. Hammersley & Company, bankers, London.

6. Gundrey & Co.

7. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.

8. Of Stilwell & Company.

9. John Mcphail, Lacock Abbey gardener.

10. Tacklemoor Wood, close to Nash Hill, also Naish Hill, a hill and farm 1 mi NE of Lacock, Wiltshire; John Gale, carpenter at Lacock. [See Doc. No: 01784].