37 Mortimer Street
Decr 29 1854 . Friday
Dear Sir
I have today been looking over papers and acsts [sic] of 1842 . 3 . & 4. for the purpose of answering the question you put, and find a Memorandum of the payment of £87. 18. 9 on March 26. 1844. – but cannot, at present, find any relating to some other payments which were made to Mr Awdry; <1> – they were small, and ceased at your instance as stated in a letter <2> dated Augst 22. 1844. – I presume that various papers relating to the matter remained in the hands of my late friend Mr Haslam, <3> and that I may have great difficulty in finding them, if they exist, – but from what I can make out by the numbers in the list of port[r]aits & copies taken, I should feel quite safe in Rating the total amount paid by me to you on Account of patent dues at under £120. –
Wishing you may yet be successful in the establishment of your right.
I remain Yours very truly
Henry Collen
H F Talbot Esq.
Notes:
1. West Awdry (1807–1892), solicitor, Chippenham. [See also Doc. No: 04973].
2. Letter not located.
3. William Haslam, Collen’s solicitor, of Haslam & Bischoff, solicitors, London.