Corsham House <1>
Friday Evening
Dear Talbot
Your note is just put into my hands on my return from Devizes and I very much regret to hear the treatment the Policeman has met with. If he has any complaint to make I am ready to receive it.
As far as I am concerned on reconsidering the matter I began to think we should not make much out here nor indeed is there perhaps any thing tangible, I therefore am inclined to consider it better he should not come.
I had no idea I assure you he was here at your expense or I should have thought it unfair to have asked for him
I will call on you tomorrow on my way or rather out of my way to Chippenham <2> where I meet Scrope and Mr Neeld <3> at eleven o clock or perhaps you will ride over there
All is going on quiet but I do not like the threatening letters at Melksham <4> as well as Chippenham
Believe me Truly <yrs?>
Paul Methuen
Excuse haste
Notes:
1. Corsham Court, Wiltshire, 3 mi NW of Lacock: seat of Ld Methuen.
2. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
3. George Julius Duncombe Poulett Scrope (1797–1876), MP & scientist, and Joseph Neeld (1789–1856), MP & botanist.
4. Melksham, Wiltshire: market town near Lacock, 2 miles S.