TALBOT2173

Laycock Abbey
19^th April

My Dear Henry

There should be indulgence plenière ¹ for all Architects – they work in the dark (as to taste) as much as Physicians, there is no telling how any thing will look, till it is up.

Parva res componere magna ² even my alcove has been obliged to be nearly pulled down again it is so impossible to foresee. It is all a lottery & a risk, like marrying – if people could but have a year & a house of probation in each case!

M^r Methuen & M^r Moore ³ dine & sleep here to day. The former came here the day after his return from the Sessions, & talked much about you, & very good naturedly. He asked me if you had any thoughts of Chippenham ⁴ where he thinks he has a great deal of moral influence, which he would gladly use in your favor. He offered to take any trouble about your subscription to the Sheriff’s fund, if you intend. He said if you are in Parliament that exonerates you, but in these times nobody can be at all sure of remaining there, particularly with the short Parliaments we shall have. The Meeting I mentioned is entirely local but will be a good opportunity for speaking & arranging something about emigration, with your good head for business, when you please to have it. Four several times has Strong ⁵ sent stones that did not fit, which of course has caused some delay, & I told him it was a most unwork manlike way of proceeding. This would not have happened if he had employed the people here & it had been worked on the spot, which indeed I recollect was originally your idea, by way of doing good in the village. You will see by my alcove that the nicest & most ornate parts can be executed as well by Bankes’s ⁶ sons as by the people at Box. Horatia ⁷ desires you may be informed that the orchis Pseudosambucina is in full bloom. The Gladiolus Tristis still adorns our window. If you have any answer about the Sheriff’s fund I will say to him what you instruct me to do – as I shall see him again