TALBOT2965

July 26 34

17 Bruton S^t
London

Dear Sir/

On enquiring of my Printer, I find that the expence <sic> of printing 100 copies of the Account of Lacock Abbey by Witham, ¹ will be 5 Gnas, including paper – To this will be to be added the prices of boarding < wil> which will be at the least 6^d per vol. The printing will be <neat?> in 8^vo and the paper good.

I am glad to learn that M^r Bowles ² is going on with his vol on Lacock, tho’ I am confident he will never sell enough to repay his expences – however it is a rational amusement, & much better than writing about politics & church reform on neither of which can he write or talk with composure I ventured to tell him he need not be alarmed about his own permanency in the church, & all its revenues, but that he must be fully aware that changes were in preparation, & that the wise & prudent churchman would prepare for such. The high church authorities may <illegible deletion> mitigate the storm – may prevent a revolution, by volunteering a temperate reform I am not desirous of embarking in any new publication either on Lacock, or other subject: but offered my cooperation with you in case Bowles gave up his vol. I presume you have my views of the cloister, published in the architectural Antiq^s? ³

Yrs very truly

J. Britton

H Fox Talbot Esq M.P.