Chippenham <1>
18h Decr 1830
Dear Sir,
I have three Letters to acknowledge, the first containing the Map & c Particulars respecting Canada – this I propose to leave with Mr Moore <2> who will take every convenient opportunity of explaining & recommending the scheme to those families who may feel inclined to emigrate –
In reply to your Letter <3> of the 14h Inst I was glad to find that there were not 50 or 60 new people who had demanded work in consequence of the recent regulations of the Magistrates, but about that number of single men altogether, who had to be employed by the Parish – I went immediately to Moore & communicated your Proposal respecting the employment of a part, in draining & other improvements at Nash Hill <4>, & after having spoken to some of the principal Paymasters, he informs me this morning, that the Parish appear perfectly satisfied with it – He undertook also to speak to a Man now working in the Neighbourhood, who is reported to be very clever about draining, & he now informs me, that he would undertake to lay out the drains for the Men to work from & instruct the Person who overlooks the Men on the Parish Roads so that he might do without his assistance. His charge for instruction & attendance would be about £2 – Moore says, that several of the Labourers in Lacock have some considerable knowledge in draining, owing to having been employed by this Man –
I have had Proposals for planting the Field at Nethermore <5> wch you mention, from Heale of Calne <6> & Salter of Bath – I need not copy them, as they inform me they have sent the same to you in Town – I observe that Heale’s plan differs from the other, from his recommending Underwood, which Salter does not appear to do – & taking that into the Account, the Price appears much the same & Heale also agrees to replace those that die in the first year – I have enquired about Heale from of a Person at Calne that I know & he speaks very well of his Trees – if he does the thing as cheap as the other, I should think he was preferable, from being nearer to overlook it – My Son has spoken to another nurseryman that he knows, but has not yet got his answer, if it should differ much from these, I will send it immediately that I get it –
With respect to Bewley Common, <7> I have no doubt of Mr Montagu’s consent (he has about the same share of it as you) but I fear there would be not the slightest chance of any funds from that Quarter – I do not hear of any one in the Parish who gives less than 9s/ a Week to his Labourers, either in Money or Provisions – Mrs Crocker’s Son immediately acceeded [sic] to your Proposal as soon as I explained the matter to him – I find from Moore, that Cock Lanedoes not belong to the Parish, but is a private Road from Bewley Common to Mr Montagu’s Farms – I understand that the parish officers are bound to obey the Magistrates scale of allowances, until altered, wch I have heard is likely to be done in some parts of it that do not work well –
In reply to your Letter recd this Morning, I am glad to confirm the report about the Factory at Chippenham having been taken – this will of necessity be a great benefit to Lacock by employing the weavers & thereby diminishing the Poor Rates – but I am confident that no specific arrangement could be effected, as it was not found practicable even in this Parish where the Factory is situated – competition will do every thing in this case & the Lacock Weavers are I believe, good & always get employment when it is to be had – I have had a correspondence about [Mrs?] Mortimer’s copyhold, wch I hope to submit to you early in next week – I am in hopes it may be brought to a satisfactory [con]clusion <8>
I remain, Dear Sir much obliged
W. H. Awdry
W. H. F. Talbot Esqr
31. Sackville Street
Piccadilly
London
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Thomas Moore (possibly d. 1854), member of the Lacock Parish Vestry.
3. Letter not located.
4. Nash Hill, also Naish Hill, a hill and farm 1 mi NE of Lacock, Wiltshire.
5. Nethermore Farm and Wood, Lacock, Wiltshire.
6. Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock.
7. Bewley Common, Wiltshire, 1 mi E of Lacock.
8. Text torn away under seal.
9. John Gale, carpenter at Lacock.