[on mourning paper]
Chippenham
28 Oct. 1862
Dear Sir,
I held your Audit yesterday and to-day I have remitted Messrs Coutts <1> £400 for your Account with the Bank of Scotland at Edinburgh – I saw Captn Gladstone <2> who told me that on his declining the purchase of Mr Starkys <3> farm at Nash Hill Lord Shelburne had agreed to take it with other property adjoining Bowood – I hope therefore you will have no difficulty another day in getting any accommodation you may require – Captn Gladstone also mentioned to me a scheme he has in view of further endowing the little Church which he has built on Bowden Hill with a view of getting the assignment of a separate District. – He proposes building a small Parsonage House and calculates on getting an Augmentation from the Ecclesiastical Comrs. Mr Paley <4> seems to have consented to the plan but your Consent as Patron will of course also be asked – I conclude however that as it will be a relief to the Parish Church you will see no objection to the application being made to the Eccl Commissioners, which appears to be desirable in order to get it on their list.
There is a good deal of Elm timber which might be cut with advantage on Wick Farm – As the Season is advancing would you like any steps to be taken about it?
I am Dear Sir Yours obliged
West Awdry.
[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esqr
Millburn
Edinburgh
Notes:
1. Coutts & Company, bankers, London.
2. Captain John Neilson Gladstone (1807–1863), MP.
3. John Starky, of Spye Park, Bronham.
4. Rev James Paley (1790–1863), Vicar at Lacock.