Chippenham <1>
6 April 1832
Dear Sir,
I paid Chas Cattle £8Ì15Ì0 yesterday by Capt. Feilding’s <2> desire – & took his Receipt for the amount as the amount of Wages due to him – Cattle has just now called on me to request that I would write to you & mention that he has not enough Cash (after paying all his debts) to carry his Family home – without he applies to the Parish – wch he is very unwilling to do – He says if you will be so kind as to pay half his Expenses home – viz £3 – it will enable him to go home immediately –
I have therefore written as he requests & shall wait you answer to communicate to him –
Pray excuse great haste
Yr obliged Servt
W.H. Awdry
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
31 Sackville Street
Piccadilly
London
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.