| Content Description | Knows of Harley's generosity and so describes the hardship he suffered at the hand of the late Duchess of Newcastle; he was a clerk to Thomas Bristowe, Harley's steward, and took on a farm in disrepair at Maplebeck; he [writer] insisted that the rent be abated and the premises repaired; Mr Wenman informed him that the duchess would allow him wood and would set his rent against any repairs he made, and assured him that Bristowe would be left to decide what repairs were fitting; therefore he [writer] repaired the house and paid no rent for a year and a half, expecting the rent to be set off against his own expenses to which Bristowe had given his support; the duchess, however, ordered that he pay the rent, threatening to seize his goods; he consulted Mr Chappell on this matter, who advised him to pay up.
Remainder of letter is damaged, with text loss, leaving meaning obscure; apparently argues that he paid up the rent; when the duchess asked Mr Chappell to remove him [the writer], he asked that someone else be ordered to do it, as he in conscience could not; as a result the duchess discharged him of his collection.
Letter dated from the preceding documents and from internal references. |