Laycock Abbey
26 Feby
My Dear Henry
It seems that Mr Awdry <1> is gone into Dorsetshire, & not coming here till Monday week, so that the affair of Casa Brashstone <2> must stand over, but I should be inclined to keep to the £12- because 10 guineas would be too great a concession. I enclose the bills for two Carpets, one in the green room where Mr Wheatstone <3> slept, & one in C's <4> old room which Mr Whewell <5> had. ( Mr Feilding <6> paid for the carpet in Horatia's <7> room) Likewise Mr Brigg's <8> bill for dying [sic] & remaking the Library curtains. He forgot to give you these bills before. That for the Shower Bath is kept back till Wright <9> has made the man alter it & take off for the hose we had of it, & which he promised to do. Mr F. advises you should have your Poney shot, as he is become quite blind, & is eating his head off. He would sell <10> for something, but perhaps you would not like that, as he is I believe old. Did you signify your pleasure about the Syringa's or am I to make it known? I have had two sheep fevers since you went, I wish you had considered it your duty, as they say in the House of Commons, to finish the iron fence last summer. I was worked up to such a desperate state of mind that I declared I would make all the Servants sit up all night & sit up myself to see that they kept awake as they did not much like this prospect I suppose, they persuaded Mr Hayward <11> to take them entirely away & not put them back till he has got the new hurdles, these being in a state of decay. Mr F. desires me to ask if you intend having the ceiling of the Dormitory mended, because if so it had better be done now while he is here to superintend, he thinks he should be of use, besides being a great amusement to him. He hopes you will not allow the Hall steps to be done while we are all away, & is convinced (if there is time which I fear there will not) that if they were done under a vigilant eye before we go to London, he could save a great deal of money for you by watching that they did not put in more new stones than are absolutely necessary, besides the old Stones being so much more picturesque and in character. He thinks Cary <12> to be trusted, but Banks <13> extravagant. It is entirely owing to the neglect of a century that the steps are in the state they now are, probably they have never been attended to since John Talbot <14> first built them, so that the rain has gone on ever since oozing through. The archway under is only a damp receptacle for snails & bats & toads, I think it had better this time be built up solid under, still preserving the appearance of the arch as it now is - what think you? It would of course be more solid & lasting.
Caroline desires I will threaten you with her serious anger if you do not answer her last letter, she says there was a question in it requiring an answer.
An uncouth looking letter with a very railway aspect, came for you this Morning, which I send you. We expected Kit & Ly Charlotte <15> till twelve o'clock last Night, but they did not appear, I conclude they were too late for the Steam packet.
You know what a capricious Man of taste Mr Beckford <16> is, always inventing furniture & then changing his mind. The other day there was a sale of his things (which occurs about every six Months) which Mr Vivian <17> attended & bought Several beautiful things for Claverton, & some Chairs which he said he thought would so exactly suit the south gallery that he could not resist buying them for us. We could have excused cette petite attention <18> as they are rather dear, but I must say now they are arrived & put in their places, they do set off the gallery amazingly. They are very handsome, & being red they suit the Curtains & warm the cold walls. Mr F. was annoyed at first at Mr V. having done it, but now he is quite reconciled, tho' very glad there are only five of them as he has got to pay the Piper, la carte payante <19> not being the most agreeable part of the business.
We are to dine next week at Lackham! <20> wish us well through it
aff yrs
EF
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
31. Sackville Street
Notes:
1. Probably West Awdry (1807-1892), solicitor, Chippenham. [See Doc. No: 03461].
2. See Doc. No: 03456.
3. Sir Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875), scientist.
4. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808-1881); WHFT's half-sister.
5. Rev William Whewell (1794-1866), Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, Professor and natural philosopher.
6. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780-1837), Royal Navy; WHFT's step-father.
7. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810-1851), WHFT's half-sister.
8. Mr Briggs, dyer at Brewer Street. [See Doc. No: 00097].
9. James Wright, footman to the Talbots & Constable for Lacock.
10. Probably for horsemeat.
11. Possibly Thomas Hayward (b. 1783), tenant farmer, Wick Farm, Lacock.
12. See Doc. No: 03483.
13. George Banks, snr (1786-1864), stonemason & coalseller, Lacock.
14. John Talbot (d. 1714).
15. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803-1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT's Welsh cousin, and his wife Lady Charlotte Talbot, née Butler.
16. Probably William Beckford (1759-1844). [See Doc. No: 02428].
17. Mr George Vivian, Esq.
18. This little thoughtfulness.
19. Bill.
20. Lackham House, Wiltshire, 2 mi NW of Lacock: Awdry family home.