Chippenham ^<1>
25^th Nov^r 1822

Dear Sir,

Having nothing particular to communicate previous to the Audit in October, I deferr’d writing till I should be enabled to state how the Rents were paid at that time – I have now the pleasure to inform you, that (considering the extreme difficulties with which the Farmers have to contend) the Payments came in tolerably well –

The remittances to Mess^rs Hammersleys ^<2> since the commencement of your present years Account are as follows viz –

May 2nd –	£	300 –
30th –		100 –
Oct–11th –		100 –
Nov. 2d –		500 –

& I expect before Xmas to have at least £200 more paid in – The Payments for Captⁿ Feilding ^<3> have been made on the regular days, as heretofore –

I wish I could give you some prospect of better times for the Farmers, but at present Prices continue very low & the Sale so exceedingly dull, that nothing but great patience on the part of the Landlords, can enable them to go on at all – I have hitherto been so fortunate as to keep every thing out of danger – by getting one account paid up before another becomes due & while we can continue to do so in these times it will be a great proof of the responsibility of the present Tenants –

Since I had last the pleasure of hearing from you, I have been looking over the particulars of the Rent Roll with a view of making an estimate of the probable value of the Estate if it was to be sold – in the present uncertain state of things, I did not feel justified in putting you to any expence for a valuation by a Surveyor & by consulting a Friend confidentially upon the Subject, I think I have been able to form an opinion as to the present Value which will answer all the purposes you wish for, unless you had actually determined upon offering it for Sale The details, I presume you will not wish for till you return to England – By M^r King’s ^<4> desire, I sounded M^r Grosett ^<5> as to his Ideas of purchasing – He said, if it ever should be offered for Sale, he should like to have the refusal of it but it would not suit him to give a fancy price for it – w^ch he thought it right to mention at once

Sincerely do I hope that you will find it convenient to keep it & you may depend upon my endeavours to make it as productive as possible at all times – a considerable portion of scattered Property in Cottages &^c – may I am persuaded, be sold off to great advantage & when you return to England, I hope to lay the Particulars before you –

Your donations to the Clubs were very gratefully received & I am glad to say they were so understood as not to create any expectation respecting other debts – We are at last about to begin the School – a large old House w^ch I could not get a Tenant for, has been found to accommodate the poor People who occupy the Cottages we want to pull down & I hope now, that you will see the School finished, when you next visit Wiltshire –

I remain Dear Sir Y^r Obliged & Obed^t Ser^t
W. H. Awdry

W. H. F. Talbot Esq^r
Poste Restante
Rome

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Notes:

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

2. Hammersley & Company, bankers, London.

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

4. Of William Read King & Son, solicitors, London.

5. John Rock Grosett (1783-1866), MP; Jamaican Parliament; occupant of Lacock Abbey until summer 1827.