TALBOT2983

Lacock
Sep^r 1^st 1834

Dear Sir,

I am happy to be able to give a good report of all things at the Abbey – I have talked with your little Page & with Fitzsimmons ¹ about him & I hope he will not be spoil’d by any one – I have lent him a Book called the friendly Visitor ² (which my Daughter uses for the Poor) to read of an Evening, when he has done his work – & I think it will both amuse & instruct him – & I have given Fitzsimmons a Book of Arithmetic, at his request, to keep up the Boys knowledge in that line – I have also talked to the other George ³ & have endeavor’d to impress upon him the necessity of good behaviour, in order to keep his Place – He promises attention to what I have said & as the poor fellow is without Parents, I am the more anxious about him & trust I may not be obliged to send him away –

I have seen Tho^s Moore ⁴ today & find that they are waiting to receive the new Act relating to the Poor Laws & then they intend to begin putting it in force by very gradual degrees – it seems to be generally admitted, that great caution will be necessary at first, in order to prevent confusion & inconvenience to the Parishes, as well as a chance of disturbance; & I apprehend, that a considerable discretion is left with the Select Vestries, on this head –

I have told Stephen Fussell ⁵, that you wish to plant some more of the Field opposite the Abbey, this Winter – & he requests me to ask you, how much you will want this year – as having had a Barley Crop on it, they are going to plough it up for Vetches – I will therefore beg the favor of you to write me as early as possible, in order that you may have only to pay for the rent of the Land taken –

Poor old Marchant ⁶ died on Saturday last – His Widow will continue to live at the Lodge & act as Porter, for the present, if agreeable to you – w^ch will give time for farther arrangements on your return to England –

I am Dear Sir Y^r Obliged Ser^t
W. H. Awdry

P.S.

I have heard that Captn Rooke’s ⁷ treaty about Lackham ⁸ is at a stand for the present, owing to some disputes among the Montagus, but not on acc^t of the Tythes –

W. H. F. Talbot Esq^r
Poste restante
Geneva
au Grand Délice ⁹