Laycock Abbey
23d February
My Dear Henry
I hope you will not forget to write to Mr Awdry <1> before he comes here next Monday, as the parties seem to have conducted themselves with great moderation & not accused you, but only given vent to a natural disappointment. Perhaps they could afford to give £12, & you have an excuse for being indulgent in the scarcity of water. It seems Mr Elgee<2> only pays £16 for that large house (which in former times was the mansion House of the Montagus)<3> & which has stabling for two horses, & all in good repair. Hansford had been to Bath & bought furniture on the faith of Mr Awdry, and Mrs Barton had laid in a stock of seeds, and was to take the fixtures, grates &c off Miss Brashstone’s <4> hands. Miss B. it seems had formerly been at some expence in curing smoky chimneys, besides trying to sink a well, but she acknowledges you are perfectly just in requiring six months notice. Those Miss B’s are very good sort of people, and leave the village because it is in a declining state. I should be sorry the house stood empty & brought you no rent at all. This will be a good lesson to Mr Awdry, for instead of not telling you things, he ought to try to make you better acquainted than you are, with all the circumstances of your Estate, for your natural disposition is quite the other way. Your occupations & turn of mind are singularly averse from all the country interruptions & bothers, and a funded property which only required to be received twice a year without trouble would suit you much better. But as you have a clear head and a good memory if Mr Awdry told you all that occurs, you would be au fait <5> of numberless details which you might make a good use of. You went away without putting by that most curious old parchment book in the Tower so I will lock it up in a dry place. I hope the plum Cake was entamé <6> at Reading, & helped to soften the désagrémens <7> of that vile Inn –
Ever affly yrs
E F
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
31. Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. Probably West Awdry (1807–1892), solicitor, Chippenham. [See Doc. No: 03461].
2. See Doc. No: 03478.
3. See Doc. No: 01458.
4. See Doc. No: 03457.
5. Skilful, thorough, master of.
6. Cut into, broached.
7. Unpleasantnesses.
8. Capt Frederick William Rooke (1782-1855) and his 2nd wife, Harriet, née Hyde, of Bath and Lackham House near Lacock Abbey.