Chippenham ^<1>
26 Aug^t 1867

Dear Sir,

I have remitted £150Ì to Mess^rs Coutts ^<2> for your Credit I am sorry to find your family has been suffering from illness since you left England – I believe every thing is going on satisfactorily at Lacock The only piece of domestic news which I am able to communicate is the intended Marriage next month of Sir John Awdrys 3^d Son ^<3> (the Engineer) with M^r Merewether’s second daughter – Cecil ^<4> – He has been ordered to go with his Regiment to India in October, and M^r Merewether objecting to long Engagements consents to their immediate Marriage. They will certainly be a remarkably handsome Couple – and I believe they are both “as good as they look” I took on myself after my last conversation with you and your son to offer M^r Merewether the shooting of InWood ^<5> with which he was much pleased. Perhaps you have written to him to the same effect: it will afford him a days sport for himself and his friends in the Season occasionally which is just what he wanted, so near home. The weather has become a little cooler the last day or two – but it has been overpowering. I quite agree with you as to the danger to be feared from the so Called Reform Bill. I do not think there is any chance of Sir John Neeld ^<6> again offering himself – and it is of Course very doubtful how [illegible] M^r Golding may be strong enough for the occasion but he is playing his Cards very well here and I am told has acquired a very good position in the House – He is Eminently a practical Man and being content to speak on subjects which he understands commands attention. I hope Calne will not forget its proper allegiance – I suppose M^r Lowe ^<7> will be adopted by the London University. With best regards to all your family I remain

Yours Truly & obliged
West Awdry

H. F. Talbot Esq

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Notes:

1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.

2. Coutts & Company, bankers, London.

3. Ambrose Awdry (1844–1885), 3^rd son of Sir John Wither Awdry (1795–1878), JP & Chief Justice, Bombay Supreme Court.

4. Henry Alworth Merewether, jnr (1813–1877), JP, author & Recorder for Devizes. His daughter Cecil Georgina Merewether married Ambrose Awdry on 24 September 1867.

5. Inwood, near Lacock, Wiltshire.

6. Sir John Neeld (1805–1891), Conservative MP; sat for Chippenham, 1865–1868.

7. Robert Lowe (1811–1892), Liberal MP; sat for Calne, 1859–1868, created 1^st Viscount Sherbrooke, 1880. Was President of the Board of Health and Vice-President of the Education Board of the Privy Council, 1859–1864, and Chanceller of the Exchequer, 1868–1873. A Member of the Senate of London University, 1867.