TALBOT1678

Chippenham ¹
21^st May 1828

Dear Sir –

I had intended writing to you this day, having occasion to ask your instructions on different subjects, but before I proceed with them, I beg to apologize for my apparent inattention respecting the Remittance to Mess^rs Hammerslys ²

The fact is, that M^r Hayward ³ has not yet paid his Rent & I have been waiting in order to make the Remittance as good as I could – & the Account being rather overdrawn before the Audit, I thought it better to leave the Money a few days longer than usual, at my Bankers in order to compensate them for it – Hayward is generally the last of the Farmers with his Rent – but as it has always come in time to pay the Tradesmen’s Bills & sooner than most Rents in the Neighbourhood, I have hitherto abstained from mentioning it to you – I observe by my Books that there is about £300– Balance in my Hands – I have remitted this Sum to Mess^rs Hammerslys & as Hayward has assured me that I shall have his Rent by the 1^st week in June at the latest – I can then remit £200 more unless you would wish me to retain any part of it for M^r Readings ⁴ Cheques – He generally draws £15– p^r Week – but sometimes £20 – you will therefore be so obliging as to mention when you write next, whether I shall retain Haywards Rent, or a part of it only –

The first subject w^ch I had to mention is, respecting the small Rick at the Abbey – Hayward desires me to say that he has sold it for £15– w^ch he considers the full value of it, being very coarse & much Rain on it, when making – & if I do not hear from you to the contrary, he will receive the money for it & pay to me this Week – He also desires me to say that the Rubbish from the old Buildings taken down, will make (when sifted) very excellent Manure for the Stew Ground – in this I entirely agree with him in opinion, as such materials are particularly good for coarse Grass – He says it can be sifted for about £2 – if he continues to rent the half of the Abbey Grounds, he will remove the earth from the yard to the Field at his own expence –

I apprehend that there will be a good many Stones among the Rubbish, some of which will do for building & the remainder for Roads & paths –

Captⁿ Fielding ⁵ having told me the other day, that I might at present direct under cover to Lord Ilchester ⁶ – I do so with this Letter –

I am Dear sir Y^r Obliged & Obed^t Ser^t
W. H. Awdry

W. H. F. Talbot Esq
31. Sackville Street