Chippenham <1>
31st March 1835
Dear Sir,
There is a part of the Wall adjoining the Room in which Mr Wright slept, at the Abbey, which requires repair – Captn Feilding <2> mentioned it to me before he left England & as I find from John Gale <3> as well as Banks – that it might be unsafe to let it go on much longer without doing something – it has occurr’d to me that you might like to have it done while you are in Town – I expect that it will take about a Month to complete the job, including the plaistering within – I have endeavor’d to ascertain the expence, & including what little Carpenters work may be necessary, I think it will be under Ten Pounds – If you should decide upon having it done now – I will take care to have a regular cheque kept upon the Day work – for I do not think, from the nature of it, that it would answer to do it by contract –
Fitzsimmons <4> spoke to me yesterday on the subject of George the Orphan Boy <5> & we both talked with him afterwards about the plan of emigration to the Cape of Good Hope – supposing you should be able to do any thing for him in that way – & the Boy expressed his wish to accept such an offer – should it be attainable – I am glad to find from Fitzsimmons, that he is at present going on satisfactorily – Therefore if you should not succeed in getting him to the Cape, I trust he may be retained in the Garden & earn enough to keep him –
The Parish could not, I apprehend, do otherwise, under the present system, than take off his pay, in order that he might be obliged to provide for himself – for he seems strong & healthy.
I hope that you have recd a Copy of the proposed Loan to Captn Rooke <6> – Wch. I sent a few days ago–
I remain Dear Sir Yr Obliged Svt
W. H. Awdry
W. H. F.Talbot Esq.
31 Sackville Street
Picadilly
London
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
3. John Gale, carpenter at Lacock.
4. Cornelius Fitzsimmons, Scottish gardener at Lacock Abbey.
5. See Doc. No: 02985.
6. Captain Frederick William Rooke (ca. 1775–1855), of Lackham, Wilts.