Chippenham ^<1>
29^h Sept. 1833

Dear Sir,

On the other side is the Copy of a Letter which was given me at Lacock Abbey a few days ago – it appears that it was accidentally omitted to be sent to me from London at the time of its being rec^d – I will take care to explain to M^r Pinniger, that the delay in answering it, is not attributable to you – & if you will now inform me what that answer should be, it shall be given to M^r P – forthwith –

When you write, I will also beg you to mention to whom I shall pay what I may have in hand at the close of the Audit, which is to be held about the middle of October, as usual –

The Walls of the new Workhouse are nearly finished & as Tho^s Moore ^<2> will soon be called upon to advance a part of the money – M^r Harman ^<3> & M^r John Awdry ^<4> will authorize him to do so, in your absence with the understanding that the Arrangement meets your approbation – My son ^<5> informs me that the following Plan was ultimately agreed to by the Vestry –

“Resolved that a Sum of £500 – should be raised of the purpose of building the proposed Workhouse The Parish officers agreeing to pay it off by Instalments of £60 – p^r Annum – the first Instalment to be made at the expiration of four years from Midsummer 1833 – Mess^r Talbot Awdry & Harman guaranteeing the payment of £500 to Th^s Moore the lender & M^r Talbot giving the Land – Half the Money to be paid to the Contractors at this time & the remainder when the Building is completed w^ch will be ab^t Christmas”

This Arrangement seems much more desirable than the former one, which fixed the first Instalment to be made at the end of ten years – in as much as it will probably prevent disputes w^ch might arise at that distant period & as so large a sum will be paid off by that time, it will be the interest of the Parish to pay off the remainder in order to make it the Building the Property of the Parish – In the mean time, the erection, being on your Land, prevents danger to yourself & the other Guarantees – Have the goodness to write a few lines that I may shew to M^r H & A –

I am dear Sir
y^r obliged Ser^t
W. H. Awdry

[enclosure:]

Copy

Chippenham
23^d June 1833

Sir/

After your reply to my former Letter I should not have troubled you on the same subject, had I not omitted to mention that M^r Coombs ^<6> is the Organist & that the Subscriptions are annually collected by the Church Warden & handed over to him – therefore if you will permit me to call on you with my Book when you are in the Country I shall be happy to do so unless you should refer me to your Agent in the Town –

I am Sir Y^r Mo Ob. Ser^t
B. Pinniger

H. F. Talbot Esq

W. H. F. Talbot Esq
Poste Restante
Gênes
Italie

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Notes:

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

2. Thomas Moore (possibly d. 1854), member of the Lacock Parish Vestry.

3. Ezekiel Harman.

4. John Awdry (1766–1844), solicitor, Reybridge.

5. West Awdry (1807–1892), solicitor, Chippenham.

6. John Combes, mining engineer.