Chippenham <1>
29th Jany 1835
Dear Sir,
According to your desire, I have been making some Calculations respecting Haywards Lease, with a view of endeavouring to ascertain, if any thing may be done to the Family, in point of Equity there being no question in regard to the Law upon the subject & after much consideration, I think the following is the most satisfactory way of stating the case.
It appears, that the Fine of £103 paid in Septr 1791 is about equal to the sum wch would have been payable to your Father <2> for the Rent of the Field, up to the time of his decease, & to which, he was, of course, entitled. From that time, the Estate being yours by virtue of the Entail, & supposing no Buildings to have been erected, the Rent of the Field up to this time, deducting the First Rent of £1·1·0 per annum (wch has been recd by you) would amount to about £300 which Sum, I consider to be the value of the Buildings erected by the late Mr Hayward & consequently, if he was now living, there would be no loss on either side The only question therefore that seems to remain for consideration, is, whether, under the peculiar Circumstances of the case, you would feel inclined to let John Hayward <3> retain the houses, for his Life he is about 57 years of age The Field, I consider quite out of the question & should be given up at once & my only reason for the suggestion respecting the Houses, is, that there can be little doubt of old Mr Hayward having considered his interest in the Property, continued for the three Lives & acting upon that supposition, appears to have left it as a Provision for his Son John
I trust you will consider every thing wch I have said upon the Subject, to be in consequence of the wish you expressed on Monday last, that I should make some calculations about it & not in the least, presuming to recommend what must, in any case, be a complete matter of Bounty, on your part I assure you, that I do not even know John Hayward, by sight The application from his Brother (wch you saw on Monday) & a belief that he is a sufferer by his fathers mistake about this Property, is my only reason for entering so fully into the details
I am Dear Sir Yr Obliged Sert
W. H. Awdry
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. William Davenport Talbot, d. 31 July 1800
3. John R Hayward.