Lacock
Sepr 1st 1834
Dear Sir,
I am happy to be able to give a good report of all things at the Abbey – I have talked with your little Page & with Fitzsimmons <1> about him & I hope he will not be spoil’d by any one – I have lent him a Book called the friendly Visitor <2> (which my Daughter uses for the Poor) to read of an Evening, when he has done his work – & I think it will both amuse & instruct him – & I have given Fitzsimmons a Book of Arithmetic, at his request, to keep up the Boys knowledge in that line – I have also talked to the other George <3> & have endeavor’d to impress upon him the necessity of good behaviour, in order to keep his Place – He promises attention to what I have said & as the poor fellow is without Parents, I am the more anxious about him & trust I may not be obliged to send him away –
I have seen Thos Moore <4> today & find that they are waiting to receive the new Act relating to the Poor Laws & then they intend to begin putting it in force by very gradual degrees – it seems to be generally admitted, that great caution will be necessary at first, in order to prevent confusion & inconvenience to the Parishes, as well as a chance of disturbance; & I apprehend, that a considerable discretion is left with the Select Vestries, on this head –
I have told Stephen Fussell <5>, that you wish to plant some more of the Field opposite the Abbey, this Winter – & he requests me to ask you, how much you will want this year – as having had a Barley Crop on it, they are going to plough it up for Vetches – I will therefore beg the favor of you to write me as early as possible, in order that you may have only to pay for the rent of the Land taken –
Poor old Marchant <6> died on Saturday last – His Widow will continue to live at the Lodge & act as Porter, for the present, if agreeable to you – wch will give time for farther arrangements on your return to England –
I am Dear Sir Yr Obliged Sert
W. H. Awdry
I have heard that Captn Rooke’s <7> treaty about Lackham <8> is at a stand for the present, owing to some disputes among the Montagus, but not on acct of the Tythes –
W. H. F. Talbot Esqr
Poste restante
Geneva
au Grand Délice <9>
Notes:
1. Cornelius Fitzsimmons, Scottish gardener at Lacock Abbey.
2. Possibly a monthly periodical by a Rev William Carus Wilson (1791–1859).
3. George the Orphan. [See Doc. No: 03063 and Doc. No: 03065].
4. Thomas Moore (possibly d. 1854), member of the Lacock Parish Vestry.
5. Stephen Fussell, church warden. [See Doc. No: 01898].
6. See Doc. No: 00497.
7. Captain Frederick William Rooke (1782–1855), of Lackham, Wilts.
8. Lackham House, Wiltshire, 2 mi NW of Lacock: Awdry family home.
9. Written in another hand.