Chippenham ^<1>
Dec^r 20^th 1832.

Dear Sir

I duly received your Letter ^<2> from Calne, ^<3> but in consequence of the pressure of the County Election which terminated only Yesterday, and in which I was engaged on behalf of M^r Methuen, ^<4> as well as not being able to obtain the expence of the Hustings &c &c. from M^r Goldney the Town clerk,^<5> I have not been able to reply to it till now –

On the other side I send you the payments already made by myself, – you will see I have paid the Ringers £10 with which they are much dissatisfied however I have positively refused to pay them more without your express directions. –

I enclose you the Town Clerks bills and M^r Alexander’s the Printers,^<6> – Lawes’ bill at the Angel^<7> I have not applied for, thinking as you paid the bill incurred there at the former Election yourself you would do so now

I have heard nothing whatever of an Election Dinner, and am in hopes it will be dispensed with altogether, as a needless expence, for I am sure the Money squandered at such times would be much better applied to Objects of Charity – I have considered your proposition as to giving away Bread, and I know it would be thankfully received by many poor and needy families, but at the same time, I cannot recommend your confining it to one loaf to each family, as what with attending to give their names, and afterwards to received Tickets, many poor Creatures with large families would lose two days for obtaining one loaf – if any thing is done, it must be done similar to the last, altho’ the Gift might be narrowed, by stipulating that the loaves given to any family however large, should not exceed a certain number, say five or six. –

I remain Dear Sir Yours very faithfully
W^m Wilmot Jun^r

H. F. Talbot Esq^r M.P.
Marquis of Lansdowne’s
Richmond
Surrey
Dec^r 20. –

[enclosure:]

Payments made by W. Wilmot. –

1832	Paid Subscription to watching & Lighting the Town of Chippenham	20	···	··
June	Paid Do to the Reform Dinner	25	···	··
	Paid for a Ticket for H. F. Talbot Esqr to the Reform Dinner at the Rose & Crown	·	8	6
	Paid for the Insertion of Address to the Electors of Chippenham in the Bath Chronicle and Devizes Gazette	2	1	11
Decr	Paid 3 Friendly Societies for the use of their Colours at the Chairing	3	··	··
	Paid the Bearers of the Chair	4	··	··
	Paid 12 Musicians engaged 2 Days	10	··	··
	Paid the Ringers	10	··	··
	Paid for Beer given away at the time of Chairing & sundry small payments to Persons assisting at the Election and chairing	4	19	··
	Paid Poll Clerk	1	1	··
	Paid for Insertion of Address in the Bath Herald	1	5	··
		______	____________	___________
	£	81	15	5

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Notes:

1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.

2. Letter not located.

3. Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock.

4. Paul Methuen, Baron Methuen (1779–1849), MP.

5. Harry Goldney, town clerk of Chippenham.

6. Richard Alexander, watchmaker & bookseller, Chippenham.

7. Joseph Lawes, owner, Angel Inn, Chippenham.