F. Chambre to the Hon. Richard Hill.

He sends a bill of exchange for £87.17.5d. by which he intends to pay to Hill his note for that sum on the balance of Mr. Griffiths' account with Hill.

He also gave Hill his note of the 22nd of last month for £41.11.10d. which he will either send by bill or apply it at Hawkestone about Hill's works there where it will be wanting pretty soon.

He did not go there till yesterday because Mrs. Hill has been there for some time with her daughter Mrs. Wingfield who lies in of another daughter "and Mrs. Hill keeping the keys of the writeings there was noe getting at them without her". He laid up the writings Hill sent him and also the mortgages assigned to Hill's nieces. He also found that Hill's two settlements of 1712 and 1723 are safely laid up there.

He saw the workmen about the new barns, as Hill calls them, but they are to be a stable for carthorses and a carthouse which are there wanting as necessary as a barn. They are only hindered from work by want of lime which cannot be got until the roads are better which he expects will not be until the middle of next month. This will give time to finish them by next Hay harvest and sooner they will not be wanted. He has marked out the ground to make a wing to defend the fold from the north, and explains the necessity for paving etc., though the ground is already levelled.

Joseph is gone home very ill - he is likely to be dead, and has been languishing for over 6 months and unable to receive Hill's directions.

Mrs. Hill herself looks after the 4 labourers working on the winter's plantations - they have a good many thousands of oaks and ashes of tolerable size into the new nurseries with some limes, elm and "abells".

He finds the earth in the lower court is not clay or marl to hold water without clay on the sides and bottoms. The new stable can be laid dry by making a "sough". The floor is still unpaved, but at present it is not needed. The roof of the first-built stable is much out of repair - it was not made of sufficiently strong timber, but Chambre thinks it can be strengthened without being expensively re-roofed, though new tiles should be laid. There should be 20,000 new tiles provided for this. For this purpose the brick earth in Joseph's upper pool lies ready dug - they may as well make brick and tile of it as not, for a stock should be kept ready to mend neighbouring farms. If Hill approves they must set about it at once.

He has ordered a plan of the Dunge (?). Wm. Price the mason will make it, Joseph being gone.

Mr. Wycherley is highly offended that his mortgage should be assigned without his knowing. Mr. Griffiths and Chambre will be as angry if he does not shorten his arrears of interest.

He does not yet know Mr. Mackworth's resolution.