W. R. King Esq.
Lacock Abbey
28 Jany. 1842
Dear Sir
With reference to the demand of Mrs Gwynne's executors I think it is too much to expect that people should be able to prove the payment of common Household Bills after the lapse of four years- The sum in question was probably paid to Mrs Gwynne after the date of her memorandum but to go into proof of the matter now might be difficult. As well might we be called upon to verify my mother's account with her in former years-
She herself during her lifetime made no claim upon my mother after she left our house for any sum due to her, as I understand.
Believe me Yours very truly
W. H. F. Talbot
[note added in another hand:]
I should think it wud be very desirable that Lady Eliz's examine her Books to see what sum of money she paid to Mrs Gwynne on quitting her service- It is hardly probable that on the day she left there was not some sum due to her - if Lady Elizh finds that she paid any sum to Mrs Gwynne on quitting there cannot be any doubt that such sum was a payment in discharge of what was due to her- if on the contrary Mrs Gwynne left without receiving any payment it must be almost equally certain that Lady Elizh must have owed her some thing- the question then wd what that sum was & how the account in respect of which the claim is set up is made out-
Lady Elizh must recollect doubtless whether Mrs Gwynne recd the 10s at Bath as if she was receiving a percent or only a portion of a sum she was entitled to claim- It is highly improbable that Mrs Gwynne wd have alld to sum such a sum to remain due so long without making any claim & most certainly she must adduce some better proof to establish her claim that surely a book 4 old years old in one handwriting