| Description | 1. Undated letter to say he and Lord Barrymore will be travelling to London via the Crown at Reading; Dr Halifax’s son has smallpox.
2. Undated letter to say his wife and children are well; he has been trying, unsuccessfully, to get the living of Heathrop for his cousin George Talbot, lately arrived from Ireland.
3. 26 Apr 1718 detailing how well the Lacock estate is: cows which supply butter; plenty of hay; a magnificent pigsty; poultry, pheasants, asparagus and apricots.
4. 13 Jul 1719 written with a disabled right hand due to a sling on one finger and a cut on his thumb. Giving condolences for the loss of Davenport’s brother Sharington Davenport and requesting a recipe for preserving pickles.
5. 7 Nov 1719 saying he would be reluctant to go to Parliament this year as he is very happy where he is and busy improving the estate, including turfing the slopes of each side of the canal. Mention of carriers of Tetbury carrying wool by horse with a return load of hay.
6. 18 Mar 1720 to say he has “the gravell” and questions whether he can withstand jolting of a coach; Lord Sunderland is protected by a large majority; details of his wife Mary’s illness; Mr Stuart fell ill.
7. 11 May 1720 about money matters and the raising of money by Parliament by selling charters.
8. 18 May 1720 about wet weather affecting harvest and travel.
9. 9 Jul 1720 to say he is angry at not receiving a letter from Henry; surmises it is because he owes Henry money.
10. 8 Aug 1720 concerning South Sea books; his wife had a relapse; Mrs Lawrence is engaged to Mr Hedges so may not be able to serve his wife; would be pleased to hear his jewels had been sold.
11. 20 Aug 1720 to say the South Sea books have been opened; Henry has asked to sell his jewels; asks for mole candles.
12. 29 Aug 1720 from Bath where the family have moved due to his wife’s illness.
13. 5 Sep 1720 from Bath to say he had ridden over to Lacock and found all well with a good harvest and had more birds than the neighbours, his gamekeeper is then going to Charlton. Mr Montague is very ill, Mrs Ivory goes tonight to Harrisons ball with Jenny Vernon and Miss Hislaby.
14. 19 Sep 1720 concerning Henry’s business with the South Sea and East India Company affairs. Seeks advice on whether to sell Salwarpe. Lord Castlehaven had gone to London.
15. 10 Oct 1720 to say he is glad Henry was out of trouble and pleased he did not subscribe to the stocks; his wife is well in her pregnancy; discusses attending Parliament, hoping the directors will be called to account and if they are guilty their estates should be confiscated.
16. 10 Nov 1720 to say his wife delivered of a daughter, both are well. Discusses Henry being made High Sheriff.
17. 31 Apr 1721 to say he had arrived [at Lacock] and all is well.
18. 27 May 1721 discussing his meetings with Mrs Calthrop.
19. 3 Jul 1721 discussion of Mr Dingle’s assertion there were unpaid bills.
20. 29 Jul 1721 commenting he had received only one letter from Henry in five weeks.
21. 7 Aug 1721 making arrangements for a joint journey of at least 4 weeks, but which cannot start till after harvest.
22. 9 Sep 1721 written from Salwarpe concerning a “troublesome affair” following the death of Mr Abington concerning his heriot and rent, but he is now assured the estate is his. Henry Davenport’s son Henry has been staying with them and is very popular. Mention of the new waterworks; Mr Whitman and the mill water; Mr Wooley and the new pond; the gardens at Hollan; Dingle and savings.
23. 7 Oct 1721 about Henry who appears to have asked for some money in short order, but the timing was such that it would mean borrowing it. He doesn’t want to quarrel over it. Mention of George Jew. Hannah Jew has smallpox.
24. 15 Oct 1721 about money matters; keen to clear debts; will begin brewing this week.
25. 23 Oct 1721 about Henry’s son Harry being ill with a fever; he going to the assembly at Chippenham that day; is very busy to clear matters before he has to attend Parliament.
26. 24 Nov 1721 to say he had been in London, but found it dull and seems now fixed in the country; planted thousands of trees in the nursery; ponds at Wick Farm in order; alterations with the doors in a new garret over the nursery and the long passage; brewed more than previously.
27. 4 Dec 1721 to say he is measuring and mapping the gardens and grounds; is going to see Lord Castlehaven and will remind him of a puppy for Henry.
28. 11 Dec 1721 about the new pool at Worfield; news of the family members; parliament and South Sea matters.
29. 11 Jan 1722 to say the house has been full of company, including his brother Mansel. Mention of Mr Hungerford. His aim is to get out of debt, which he calls his “troublesome weight”, particularly the London tradesman and lawyers, and improve the estate. Debts are owed to Gascoigne, Hamish, Dingle, Mr Phill, on his mother’s account and Harding. He intends to re-buy the Red lion Inn, where Lodwick Waite lives. His wife has been very ill but is on the mend.
30. 11 Jan 1722 to say his brother Mansel had arrived; sorry to hear Dr Hallifax had died but he hopes his death “will put an end to all differences between you and your sisters”.
31. 23 Jan 1722 asking Henry to tell Mr Wooley about Barbery and black cherry slips and apple and pear grafts from Lord Stamford.
32. 26 Mar and 16 Apr 1722 to say he is out of Parliament; would liked to have been offered Mr Hide’s seat on his death, but glad another was found rather than Lord Herbert: “I’ll venture to foretell without the spirit of prophecy that the villainy of the last will be exceeded by that which is now choosing, they are to give the finishing stroke to our ruin”; discussion regarding the sale of his jewels to repay debts. PS added 16 Apr as he had been ill.
33. 30 Sep 1723 discussing Wick Farm; his journey to Wales; his jewels sill not disposed of.
34. 26 Oct 1723 to say Mortimer is ready to teach Henry’s servant how to make malt; his brother Ivory is in Dublin attending Parliament; the Examination Act.
35. 9 Dec 1723 to say he will pay Gascoigne’s bill; Mr Taylor says he not received a penny from the tenants; the delay in selling his jewels.
36. 23 Dec 1723 about the death of his father in law Lord Mansel’s. His wife is grieving more than he thought she would for her father. Betty Mansel had married the parson and Lord Mansel had “sickened from that day he heard the news and kept to his bed till he died”. Talks of an unfortunate affair concerning Lord Mansel’s son Bussy.
37. 13 Jan 1724 to say his wife has been ill and he’s afraid she will miscarry; discusses finances after his Lord Mansel’s death.
38. 19 Feb 1724 to say he has had much trouble with illness and vexatious disputes with his neighbour; considering whether to go to the Assizes; hopes for discharge from Gascoigne’s debt.
39. 18 Sep 1724 to say he received visits from Thomas Lebright and Mr Drake.
40. 21 Nov 1724 to say his wife is exceptionally weak; river works are taking precedence, including a fence against otters.
41. 5 Dec 1724 thanking him for the present for his wife who continues very poorly; they are going to Bath to be near help and to have her arm pumped; enquires if Governor Boon was chosen for Ludgershall; Tom has recently left so he needs help to find a good butler who can shave.
42. 3 Mar 1725 to say he has written to Bussy Mansel; asks for Henry to send some Battensey asparagus roots by Wilkinson & Prats stage coach that calls at the White Bear in Piccadilly and the Bell Savage Inn at Ludgate Hill.
30 July 1725 written from Bath giving details of his wife’s illness; they are not in Bath for the waters but so they can be near immediate help because her sickness is so complicated. He writes “Since I came from London she has not been out of her bed more than on a pallet ... and that perhaps not once in a fortnight. It is now ten weeks since her last relapse that she has not taken notice of any thing, never comes to speak even to me, and not twice in a day knows me or those about her”. He is travelling to Lacock once or twice a week for the day and then returning to his wife, as he is without a steward. |