Sir,
Llansantraed House <1> is to be let from year to year at £180 per Annm the Tenant paying all rates and Taxes or two hundred pounds per Annm the Landlord undertaking to pay those charges but as this is not a convenient time for leaving a House on account of the Garden I prefer letting for six or eighteen months so that the Tenancy should end at the 2d of Feby next or at Feby 2d 1841 –
The Tenant will be expected to keep the interior of the House and the Furniture in good order and repair – ordinary deterioration being allowed, and the Landlord will keep the outside of the Premises in repair – should these times suit your views I must beg an answer by return of post. having another application from a Gentleman in Bath who expects a reply
I am Sir
Your very obt Svt
Josh [undeiphered - Drummond?]
Newport
July 6 1839
Henry Talbot Esqre
31 Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. With the situation complicated by variations in the spelling of Welsh, there were quite a few possibilities for hamlets of this name at the time, but only Llansaintfraed, on the river Usk just north of Newport, is known to have had a house by the same name. At present, it is not known why WHFT was interested in renting a house in the area.