Chippenham <1>
21st Decr 1830
Dear Sir,
I mentioned in my last Letter, that I had been negociating with Mrs Mortimer <2> respecting the surrender of the Copyhold & I now beg to submit the terms for your consideration – The Premises consist of two Fields & an old House – at present let to Richd Knott <3> as follows –
| Fields £22 · – |
| House – 5 · – |
Her first proposal, was, to give up the whole immediately & to be released from delapidations – this I declined as soon as I had recd an estimate for putting the Buildings into repair – which amounts to £130 – but intimated, that as she was desirous of having the Business settled during her Life, you might be inclined to divide the expence – She then offered £40 – This Sum I do not consider sufficient with reference to her Age (I hear she is as much as Eighty, but in good health for that age) & I therefore declined the offer, but said, if she was inclined to give £65 – and the Rents from Michaelmas last, I should consider it a fair proposal to recommend – Her Agent, in reply, asks for some little abatement of those terms, but I have no doubt will ultimately accede to them, in case you should feel inclined to accept the offer – My own opinion is that it is desirable under all circumstances – because this Sum will probably suffice to repair the habitable part of the Premises & the remainder (altho necessarily included in the Estimate) may be taken down to advantage, in my opinion – another reason for my recommending the acceptance of the offer – is, the uncertainty as to the disposition of Mrs M–’s property, & the consequent trouble wch there might be in recovering the full amount of delapidations, after her death –
When you have considered the subject, I shall feel obliged by your decision & I will communicate it to the Parties – or if you are likely to be at Lacock, soon, you will perhaps prefer looking at the Property, first –
I mentioned some time ago, that a part of Tacklemoor Wood, was much in want of draining – in case you should decide upon draining the Nash Hill Farm <4>, I beg to recommend this being done at the same time – There is a little Timber fit to cut on that Farm this Year – I hope to be prepared with the Particulars of it, in about a fortnight –
I am Dear Sir
Yr obliged Hble Sert
all things continue tranquil in this Neighbourhood –
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
31 Sackville Street
Piccadilly
London
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. See Doc. No: 02100.
3. Richard Knott, of Lacock.
4. Nash Hill, also Naish Hill, a hill and farm 1 mi NE of Lacock, Wiltshire.