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Thurs
[Hills] Hotel

My dear Bull
You must forgive my infidelity to my Engagement with you Saturday when I tell you I am commanded to stay in town [until?] Saturday Eve to meet HRH Prince Albert, the Duke and Sir Robert at [Sir John Beamish?] that Eve. Pray make Mrs. Buckland talk for two and believe me

Ever faithfully yours
Wm. Buckland

Thurs
[Hills] Hotel

My dear Bull
You must forgive my infidelity to my Engagement with you Saturday when I tell you I am commanded to stay in town [until?] Saturday Eve to meet HRH Prince Albert, the Duke and Sir Robert at [Sir John Beamish's?] that eve. Pray make Mrs. Buckland talk for two

Believe me
Ever faithfully yours
Wm. Buckland

Ch Ch [18]27

To be returned

My dear Bull

Mr Johnson was here yesterday and having verified the delivery of more than £1,200 of Granite I signed an order to pay him £1000 in addition to the £200.
The Slate on the margin of the Library cornice will I believe do its work until the Roman cement decays and if the cement be good it will last many years.
I have heard nothing from the Dean about Torrington nor has [Jeff?] He will have told you of my intention to be at Torrington tomorrow, which is now postponed another week by a letter just rec'd announcing a visit on Saturday from 3 [Prussian?] Generals who were staying at Blaise Castle with me during the Bristol meeting and whom I have invited to my house here. My motive for going to Torrington is that I think I see a prospect of carrying into effect with advantage to myself and the college the improvements suggested in the observations in Knight's Survey 1812 of which I inclose a copy.

1. I assume the truth of this report
2. I know from a recent journey 1821 through Torrington that much of the land in that region is susceptible of great improvements by a large outlay of Capital and the New Systems of Husbandry
3. The Natives will adopt neither of these improvement system for 1/2 a Century.
4. I think I could turn my recent information acquired in Agriculture to good account thus if the lands on inspection shd appear capable of Improvement.
   A. Supposing I were to purchase the 21 years lease of the glebes of [Prestacott] and the Glebe of St Giles at a price a little exceeding what can be got from any native non-improving farmer or West Country Gentleman, I assume that the College would at the [?] not change anything for the improvements made; in the 1st 7 years.
   B. Supposing the lease [?] and 2nd be justified in laying out a very large sum of money in drainage to be repaired during my term by improved Rents.
   C. It will be essential to introduce The Scotch and East of England System of Husbandry and a Scotch Tenant with Capital, or a Scotch Bailiff without Capital will be indispensable. I have acquaintance enough with many of the first [practical?] agriculturalists to make it easy for me to find either of these Personages I have also knowledge of what is required to be done if the quality of the land and the climate warrant a large expenditure; for Torrington is on the margin of a bleak and elevated [plain?] I think the plan adopted by Lord Spencer and Lord de Manley wd. be more advantageous than letting to a Scotch Tenant to establish a Partnership with an intelligent Scotch Bailiff on the Plan following
5. The Landlord to find Capital from Stock [implements] etc.
6. The Bailiff to find Management of the entire concern at no Salary
7. The Proceeds to pay all Expenses including the Rent of land at its present value. Proceeds also to pay me 5 or 6 per cent on the Money sunk in the drainage or other permanent improvements and also repay the sunk Capital in 21 years.
8. The [?] of Profit i.e. of [?] Profit after the above deductions to be divided equally between my Bailiff or Partner and myself

23 Sept 18[42]

Dear Bull

I have desired Mrs Snell to procure a copy of the Poor Rate charged on every Estate in Gt. Torrington for the last 4 years and to employ and pay on account of the Chapter some person for making the required Copy and send the same to you at Ch. Ch. forthwith - I go to Scotland the 20th May and to [Lynn?] the 29 visiting R.Peel on my way home and hope to be here again the 16 or 17 or 18 late.
Parapet and Belfry all finished and looking magnificently Weather Cock Pivot returned this day made by the Chief Engineer at the Paddington Station, of Zinc revolving on Gun Metal which will not rust in 1000 years.

Pusey here

Ever Yours
Wm. Buckland

Ch. Ch. 25 July 1840

Dear Bull
Hudson has been with me this morning and represents the difficulty of getting the best Bath stone to be now so great that he can with difficulty get the smallest quantity. The reason is obviously one which will continue to operate during the whole of the next 12 months more forcibly than in any other year from the Creation to the general conflagration viz the construction of the Works of the Great Western Railway in the midst of the Country that supplies the Bath stone. The Railway Engineers sharp fellows and always on the spot will be sure to want and to select for their own use all the best stone that can be got out and if we buy this year we shall only get their leavings and at a price exaggerated for the present year only beyond the normal amount as was the last with [Young?] Barnes Building at Ardington. Is it not prudent therefore to postpone our [conjunction?] of 100 tons of Bath Stone or more, at least for one year? by the end of which the Rail Road will be finished [for?] the extraordinary demand of 1840-41 will have passed away.

Believe me

Truly yours

W. Buckland

You will hear from Barnes respecting Col. Wood's Agent who has been here today we told him the Chapter had long and duly considered the principle of valuing their renewal where [Commutation?] has taken place according to the scale of the [Commutation?] Tables and as they had resolved to make no exception from their Rule in the case of [Enstone?] Dr Barnes and I had no authority and saw no reason to open any discussion of the principle on which Col. Woods fine out to be estimated.

To the Revd Dr Bull
Staverton
Daventry

Dear Bull,

Do you think the enclosed sufficient? or shall I ask for the sums paid for Poor Rate on all the Estates from 1833 to 1841 it shd. be more satisfactory than a partial statement of 3 Estates. I will write for a full statement if you desire it.
I am just returned from Yorkshire by Noble host made no allusion to [Elliker?] tho I led up to it 2 or 3 times but he said not a word. I shall be home more or less till [1 Oct?] The granit will be finished as to steps and parapet in a few days and look glorious[ly?] [?] is here.

W. Buckland

I send you my only copy of the London Mercury that you may read the Speeches of W. Harcourt and myself on [?] [?] Meeting at [?] and pray return it by next post while it will come free.

Yours
Staverton
Daventry