| Description | Soho Sepr. 1782.
Dear Sir
By the time this comes to hand I hope you will find yourselves comfortably settled at Cosgarne and that you also performd your journey without accidents or extra fatigue. I arriv'd at Uttoxeter and waited upon Mr Hart and Dr Smith on Sunday evening, the latter accompanied me to the Cottage on monday morning, it is a sweet place, and if it can be had at all I expect it will not be very high, the Goods (which are not expensive) will be sold very soon but the day is not yet fix'd; the reason they have been so long in suspence has been on acct. of of the Executors not agreeing which shou'd be the Active one, but it was settled (the 6 inst:) that a Mr. Mills shoud be the active one, and he had wrote to a Mr Shipherd who is to have the refuse of it; and he expected his answer every day and so soon as he has it Mrs. F is to know. The house at Doveridge is a good house and a pleasant Situation but it wants some repairs which both Mr. Hart & Dr Smith think the Landlord will do; if so, I think it remarkable cheap for Dr Smith says the last Tennant let as much Land as reduced his rent to £9.- and he kept as much as mantaind a Cow & horse; so that the rent of the House was very Trifling, Armitage Park wont do at all; for the House and garden only has been Let for upwards of £80.- per annum. Dr Smith thinks the Cottage may be about £20. per annum if the Gardens are included in this sum I think by letting a part of it may be reduced to £14 or £16.- for they say she may easily let the Gardens either seperate or all together and purchase her Garden stuff, which will be the cheapest way; but if she keeps a Man he will have little else to do the Gardens are in very high condition and all kinds of fruit trees in the highest perfection-I beleive Mrs. F means to sell every thing except the list you know of amounting to £219- and perhaps some of them, I wish she woud consent to let the plate go if she would I think she might keep all the rest and buy every necessary at the Cottage and still keep within £300- for all-She intends to send for Warren and to have the Sale advertiz'd for some day this month-Warren has reckond the plate @ 6/4 per oz which She thought dear & I advised her to let it go but whether she will I can't say.
I came to Yoxhall on monday morning and stayd most of the day on Tuesday, I find their crops very light both hay and Corn and the former very indiferently got Mrs Pott is Thrashing her Wheat to make up her rent which with her cheese she says she hopes She will be able to make up but this leaves a bad prospect for Lady Day rent. Upon the whole I think you will be injuring your self by leting her continue and only keeping her chin just above water for perhaps a year or so but I am affraid you will not be able to send her a notice to quit in time as I expect she shoud receive it on or before the 29 inst: if you conclude for her to go and can get it here by the 28 it may be sent over on purpose. Whether she goes or stays the Barn must be strip'd and new tiled next Summer and also a part of the House for the Timber is pershing fast.
I think Thacker has been rather lavish in repairs for he has even built and tiled a Coal house which woud make a little brewhouse.
Hawley the Blacksmith grumbles sore about his house not being repaird but I told him he must apply to Thacker for you woud not lay out another 6d. We had such excessive heavy rain yesterday as obliged us to cut the Pool Dam between the two Bridges at Ninive for after shuting the water out at Coker Allens and leting both the Mills & both Cascades go it came so fast as to run over the Dam in many places and it woud soon have been down if we had not cut it but it is now made up and all is well again. Friend Phillips was with Mr. Watt at Soho yesterday. We have nothing particular in the business but are in a great hurry just now and in my next Shall give you a regular list. I had likd to have forgot to tell you that the Common field going from the Bridge up to Murrey (with your approbation) is intended to be divided and inclosd it belongs to Mr. Woodroff, Mr Lightwood, Mr. Spencer, & your self, the whole may contain 40 or 50 Acres and you have about 9 or 10 This is what Thacker tells me Mr. Lightwood desired you might be acquainted that they coud wish to have it done this michs: so soon as the Corn was got in. With respectful Compts. to Mrs. Boulton
I remain Sincerely
Your obedt. Servt
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