Chippenham <1>
8h Decr 1830
Dear Sir/
I am happy to report that every thing remains peaceable in this Neighbourhood – My reason for now troubling you, is to mention what has been done about the Coppice Wood – I could not get an adequate offer for it at the Auction & therefore, of course did not sell – but as John Gale <2> was one of the Bidders & I felt confident that he wished for it, I talked with him upon the Subject, after the other Parties were gone & found that the great objection to the conditions of Sale was the time limited for removing the Wood, viz the 1st of Febry – as he assured me, it was impossible to sell the Faggots &c by that period, without a very great sacrifice in price – but he said, if he should become the Purchaser, he would undertake to have it all cut & the Wood Gates locked up by the 1st of February & that it need not be disturbed in any way, till the Pheasants had bred & the young ones were strong enough to run – say, some time in April. – It occurred to me, that such a Stipulation as this, would remove all difficulty upon the subject & particularly as I think I have understood, that the Faggots are liked by the Pheasants for making their nests in – as you have told me that you consult Captn Feilding <3> upon these subjects, I hope he may think this Plan unobjectionable, if so, I have no doubt of getting a fair price for the Coppice Wood, from John Gale, which I shall be glad to do if possible, as I never have any difficulty respecting the payment with him & I can depend upon his accomodating [sic] as to any particular time that you may wish the Wood to be removed in the Spring –
I hope to see Mrs Crocker’s Son here on Saturday & have no doubt of arranging every thing about her Labourer, in the way you wish – I will also take care to attend to the conviction of the Man you have summon’d for cutting the Limb of the Tree in Inwood <4> –
The plan you mention respecting letting Land to the Poor in small quantities, shall have the best attention in my power so as to enable them to commence operations at Lady day–<5> it will require a good deal of arrangemt in order to make it convenient to them & not detrimental to the Farms – but I have no doubt of being able to accomplish it with the assistance of Phelps <6> & it is an object that I have anxiously at heart, as I think it one of the most likely methods of any that could be devised, for improving the condition of the Poor, as well as lowering the Rates – I am glad to find that Mr Methuen <7> is determined to promote this Plan on his Estates –
If you can conveniently give me a few Lines respecting the Coppice Wood, by the end of this Week, I shall feel obliged, as I expect to See John Gale on Saturday or Monday & the sooner the Wood is now cut – the better –
I remain Dear Sir Yr much obliged Sert
W. H. Awdry
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
31. Sackville Street
Piccadilly
London
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. John Gale, carpenter at Lacock.
3. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
4. Inwood, near Lacock, Wiltshire.
5. Lady Day is one of the traditional English quarter days, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, on 25 March.
6. Philip Phelps, Surveyor of Taxes & Bailiff, Lacock.
7. Paul Methuen, Baron Methuen (1779–1849), MP.