TALBOT2085

Lacock
Sunday 28 November 1830

My Dear Mother

There was a fire near Melksham ¹ last night, so M^r John Awdry ² & I have decided on retaining the policemen to organise the special constables – They are to sleep in the Abbey at opposite ends of the house, one is to have the room known as M^rs Vickery’s ³ room; the other Amélina’s ⁴ room – the country seems exceedingly quiet in all other respects – Mr Rogers ⁵ gave us a sermon today on the disturbances, he said they were owing to our “unbelief” – I thought his exhortation would do neither good nor harm. The policemen seem respectable people; they are to have 10 shillings a week board wages, I hope one week will be all that is requisite. I thank you for your news from Dorsetshire, else I should receive none at all from that quarter. I told Strong ⁶ to come over yesterday, but he neither wrote nor came –

Yours aff^ly
Henry

The Policeman who has travelled thro’ Spain & Portugal says he never saw so pretty a monastic building as this. The weather which was bitter cold, has become mild & rainy. –

P.S. ½ past five.

I have just been to Sloperton ⁷ – Moore ⁸ is very well and not in any alarm – When he is, he promises to come to the Abbey and take shelter under the protection of its garrison –

Lady E. Feilding
31. Sackville S^t
London