Chippenham
14 July 1863
Dear Sir,
I will inform Mr Whatman of your absence in Scotland – The Summons was properly left open under a late Act of Parliament which makes Service by post legal and no time is fixed for service on a Special Juror – provided the Summons reaches its destination – The Fire Insurance Office allowed you £6: 13: 7 for the damage sustained at the Abbey according to John Gale’s <1> Valuation –I presume you did not send Mrs Banks a Cheque for the dinner she provided on your Son’s coming of age – Please to send it thro’ me (when convenient) as I advanced it to her when she paid her rent – The Amount was £15· 11· 0 – The Gladstones <2> wish to carry out their late Father’s wishes of building the Parsonage House on their own Land, where he had staked it out, – if this can be carried out they will not require to site on the Common – The difficulty arises from the property being strictly entailed on the Son who is a minor – but I think the Ecclesiastical Comrs have powers sufficiently comprehensive –
I am Dear Sir Your’s [sic] obliged
West Awdry.
Notes:
1. John Gale, carpenter at Lacock.
2. The survivors of Capt John Neilson Gladstone (1807–7 February 1863), MP, and his wife, Elizabeth Honoria, née Bateson (d. 11 February 1862). They had four daughters born by 1841 (who were probably making this decison) and a young son born in 1855.[See Doc. No: 08701].