Pièce 53 - Letter from an unknown individual to Bull

1 letter

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

Transcriber's note: This letter comes to a sudden end, unsigned, suggesting that there must be more pages somewhere