TALBOT1089

Chippenham ¹
12^th June 1823

Dear Sir,

I have received your favor of the 15^th of May & in reply, am happy to state, that the difference between the Sum received for last year & that which we estimated it at, does not arise from any cause which is likely to happen again – a Tenant of M^r Montague’s who owed you £17 – for rectorial Tythes – became insolvent & as yet, I have not been able to get any part of the money – this & the Twenty Guineas which you gave to the Clubs will more than account for the deficiency –

With respect to future Prospects, I am now beginning to feel quite cheerful, the considerable reduction which has been made in the Taxes & other causes appear to be gradually ameliorating the situation of the Farmers & you have probably seen by the Papers, that Sir Tho^s Lethbridge ² has withdrawn his motion relative to Agricultural distress – if we should be so fortunate as to escape being drawn into this War, I have little doubt of this Country being soon in a state of prosperity – I certainly do not expect to see Rents so high as during the late War, but something better than at present – & with a reduction of half the Assessed Taxes a considerable reduction in all articles of Housekeeping, Servants Wages &c & no Property Tax to pay – I consider the Landed Interest will be nearly as well off as in former times –

I have the pleasure of making a general good report of all things at Lacock – with the exception of the Arrears on the two poor Farms on Nash Hill, ³ w^ch occurr’d during the very bad times, I get most of the Rents paid soon after they become due, but a few of the Tenants are more dilatory w^ch must be expected among so many – Since the close of the last acc^ts I have remitted £300– to Hammerslys ⁴ – & the same Sum to Captⁿ Feildings ⁵ Acc^t – I hope in a very few days to get another Sum paid in & to make a further remittance to Hammerslys –

By the death of D^r Popham’s Widow ⁶ w^ch has lately happened – I expect an increase of at least £30 p^r annum to the Rent Roll – & having now nearly paid off the Tythes due to M^r Paley ⁷ during your minority, there will be an accession of Income from that source after the present year – We have begun building the School & I am much gratified in finding the Wood from the Copse [illegible deletion] which I had appropriated for raising the ways & means) turns out something better than was expected –

I remain Dear Sir Y^r much obliged Ser^t
W.H. Awdry

W. H. F. Talbot Esq
Poste Restante
Milan