Chippenham
29 Jan: 1847
Dear Sir,
I thank you very much for your kind expressions of sympathy and condolence on my late bereavement: to Mrs Talbot <1> I feel peculiarly indebted for her kind offer of assistance to my poor Children, who are at present too young to feel, fully, the irreparable loss they have sustained – My duty to them requires that I should return to my usual avocations and I believe it is the best thing for myself also tho’ not altogether the most congenial to my feelings at the present moment.
As soon as I receive your Map shewing the positions chosen by Mr Ward <2> for the Bridges on your Estate, I will give the subject my best attention and inform you the result – I conclude that you give up all idea of accepting Compensation for one of the Bridges – and mean to have the full number originally intended Would it not be as well to get the Exchange Deed executed by Mr Mansel Talbot <3> – and Messrs Bolton & King <4> should be requested to furnish an Abstract of your title to the Land sold to the Company. Shall I write to them for it?
I remain dear SirYour obliged Servt
West Awdry.
<at foot of page:>
W.H.F. Talbot EsqNotes:
1. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
2. Richard James Ward, of Bath.
3. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
4. Of William Read King & Son, solicitors, London.