Chippenham <1>
15 Augt 1838
Dear Sir,
I sent your subscription to the Sheriffs Fund yesterday by my Son <2> & he learnt at Mr Salmons office, that the last payment was made in 1833 & as I find no such entry in my Book, I conclude it must have been paid by yourself at Devizes & that they only apply for it, when they want to make up their Accounts
I have desired Banks <3> to let me have his Coal Bill wch shall be paid as you desire
The Cottage at Bowden Hill <4> has been taken down & the Materials are being used for Repairs in that Neighbourhood as they are wanted wch will save expence in Carriage
The Book lent to the Surveyor, will, I find be wanted about a Month or 6 Weeks longer
I am glad to hear that you have allowed Humphries <5> to occupy the Gardeners Cottage for the ensuing year as I think it will be a security to the Premises & from my observation with respect to him, I am really in hopes, that you will have every thing kept in the same good order as heretofore & at much less expence I am now going to mention a subject, which I had thought of deferring till your return to Lacock but as you do not state how soon that may be, I feel that it will be a relief to my Mind not to delay it longer
The State of my health, has been for some time past, less strong than it used to be & I have lately had symptoms which have warned me, that I must avoid as much as possible, all great fatigue either of mind or Body indeed such is the advice wch I have received upon the occasion Under these Circumstances, I have felt that it will be my duty to you, as well as to myself to tender the resignation of the Situation wch I have so long held in your Service the duties of which, having become for some time past, more arduous than formerly, I am, of course, still less able to contend with Happily for me, the present season of the Year; is that in which there is less to be done, than at almost any other period & consequently there will be no necessity for your being in any way hurried with regard to the selection of a Person to succeed me There will be no Audit to be held till after Michaelmas & My son has offered to assist me in all local matters wch may require my attention in the mean time I am thankful in saying, that my Head is still equal to all Accounts & money matters & this being the case, I hope that you will not think it necessary to put yourself to any inconvenience, in returning to Lacock earlier than you had intended to do
I remain, Dear Sir
Yr Obliged Sert
W. H. Awdry
P. SSince I saw you last, I have completed making out the Acct of 1837 Upon which there appears a Balance in your favor of £1323Μ9 When you write next please do mention where you would wish this sum to be paid & it shall be done accordingly
W. H. F. Talbot Esqr
Post office
Newcastle on Tyne
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. West Awdry (18071892), solicitor, Chippenham.
3. Probably George Banks, snr (17861864), stonemason & coalseller, Lacock or George Banks, jnr (18211894), stonemason, Lacock.
4. Bowden Hill, Wiltshire, 1 mi SE of Lacock.
5. John Humphries, gardener at Lacock Abbey in the early 1840s.