Chippenham ^<1>
23^d June 1837

Dear Sir /

Since the rec^t of your Letter, I have had two Interviews with M^r Hunt, on the subject of the Sand – & I have now rec^d an offer from him w^ch is as follows – viz

The Sand to be raised by you & delivered to his Carts in the Field at 9^d p^r Ton – He expects that he shall want from 4 to 5 thousand Tons –

I have talked with Blackham on the subject & find that it will cost you 6^d p^r Ton to raise the Sand – besides something for his own time in superintending it – & he thinks it ought to be sold for at least 1^s/– p^r Ton – the making the Ground good, will cost but little if the work is done by our own People, & this I should venture to recommend on many accounts, & as preventing the chance of future disagreements, w^ch might be the case, if strangers were to be employed in the raising the Sand –

When you have made up your mind upon the subject, I shall be happy to hear from you & communicate your answer to M^r Hunt –

I have endeavor’d, with Blackhams assistance, to trace the whole affair to the source – relative to the taking the Sand at Nash Hill ^<2> – for altho’ the value of it, does not amount to five shillings, the circumstances attending it, were so impudent & extraordinary, that it seems necessary to take it up seriously – & as I have now got the name of the Person who received the Sand & have seen one of the men who took it, I think I may be able to give you all Particulars in the course of next Week. –

I remain Dear Sir Y^r obliged Ser^t
W. H. Awdry

P.S –
M^rs Talbot ^<3> was so obliging as to send me this morning – the favorable report which she had rec^d from you, relative to Admiral Fielding ^<4> – I should hope that the attack of Gout, must be a proof of strength in his general constitution –

W. H. F. Talbot Esq
31 Sackville Street
Picadilly [sic]
London

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Notes:

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

2. Nash Hill, also Naish Hill, a hill and farm 1 mi NE of Lacock, Wiltshire.

3. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.

4. Misspelling of Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.