allowing the different deductions, some of which were considered improper, and for many of which no vouchers were produced,) because Mr. Fisher had charged Mr. Benett with half-a-year's land-tax too much, and half-a-year's propertytax (631. Is.) as being due at Michaelmas, 1816 when that tax had ceased to exist at the Lady Day preceding; and because Mr. Fisher had taken credit for the amount of the valuation for ploughing and other work, notwithstanding such valuation was made without the privity or knowledge of Mr. Benett or his coming-on tenant, who in point of fact was to pay the money. An answer was given to Mr. Fisher by me, pointing out these objections, and a request made that he would send a remittance of what in my judgment was nearer the correct balance. Here the matter rested till the meeting at Deptford Inn, on the 1st of April, 1817, when Mr. Fisher claims the merit of paying his rent before it became due; but Mr. Fisher cannot fail to recollect that this was not the case, for he had no money, but proposed to give his promissory note of hand, payable at ten days after date, for 6947. 13s. at the Banking House of Messrs. Locke, Hughes and Co. in Devizes, and which I without the least hesitation agreed to accept, alleging that I did not wish to be particular, or to occasion Mr. Fisher the least incon venience. Mr. Fisher intimates that he has still a claim on Mr. Be nett for grass seeds and fixtures; but such claim, if admitted, cannot be equal to that which in justice Mr. Benett has on Mr. Fisher for the disputed items which he has taken credit for in the accounts. I beg to apologize for the trouble I am imposing on you, and remain, gentlemen, Your very obedient servant, Shaftesbury, May 9, 1818. Dr. Mr JOHN FISHER in Account with JOHN BENETT, Esq. as to Enford Farm. 1812. Oct. 28. Cr. Rent, due Lady By Half a Year's Property Tax £630 0 0 By Balance received this day To the balance £630 0 1814. Nov. 12. of last Account 537 4 10 By Cash on Account 350 0 brought on. Lady-day 1815. Carried forward £537 4 10!! By half a year's Property Tax 63 1 £413 1 0 R To half a year's Rent, due Mi 630 0 0 chaelmas 1816. £2162 14 8 1816. Oct. 28. By Cash on Account By ditto 1817, April 1. By Bill claimed for Grass Seeds By ditto for Hoeing Turnips £. S. d. 1000 0 0 196654 39 13 0 2'10' 0' 223 1 2 211 4 10 0 694 13 £2162-148 Note. In the different Bills of Disbursements the Timber used in Repairs, &c. is not included, being partly purchased by Mr. Benett, and partly cut at Enford and Pythouse. The value was very considerable. To the Printers of the Salisbury and Winchester GENTLEMEN, CONCEIVING that the above account would be expected to appear in your Journal, I desired Mr. Chitty, my solicitor, to make it out as correctly as possible, which he has done. I have only to remark, that in the disbursements none of the timber which was cut and used on the estate, to a very considerable amount, as well as a great deal of the work which was prepared and done at Pythouse, is included, nor is a bill included to the amount of £123 12s. 8d. for oak and carpenters' work at the hatches in the new meadows, which was done by a person in this neighbourhood, and paid by myself. The whole charge for making the new meadow, exclusive of the above hatch-work, amounts to £374 14s. 11d. As the ineadow does not contain seven acres, this extraordinary expenditure, under the control of Mr. Fisher, though far short of £600, could not be for my benefit. Mr. Fisher, in his last letter, has evaded the most material points on the subject in discussion, that is, whether he got or lost money on my farm, and whether I did or did not turn him out of its possession. I trust my Wiltshire friends will never believe I could have applied so absurd and abusive an expression to them as Mr. Fisher asserts, which I never used, or except by his letter ever heard of. I will now leave the public to judge of his motives and conduct; and as I considered him to have united himself with others equally contemptible, who have, I trust, served my cause by their malevolent and vulgar abuse, I shall take no further notice of him. I remain, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant, Pythouse, May 8, 1818. JOHN BENETT.. WILTS ELECTION. To the Printers of the Salisbury and Winchester Journal. GENTLEMEN, MR. LONG WELLESLEY not having declared what he meant by the "Notorious Quorum" alluded to in one of his addresses, nor named the Magistrates composing it,-We, the undersigned, defy Mr. Long Wellesley, or any other person, to prove that we have at any time exercised the authority vested in us as Magistrates for the purpose of furthering our pricate views. Wad. Locke J. R. Grossett 7th May, 1818. J. Fuller Edwd. H. Mortimer To W. Long Wellesley, Esq. CONCEIVING that I also belong to the Quorum Family, although my Christian name being "Anti" may appear to contradict it, I have sent you the following extract from Johnson's Dictionary, 2 vol. quarto, 6th edition, 1785, respecting the word notorious, which you have so freely used towards some branches of the family. The extract is this:-"Notorious (adj. notorious, Lat. ; notoire, Fr.) publicly known; evident to the world; apparent; not hidden-It is commonly used of things known to their disadvantage; whence by those who do not know the true signification of the word, an atrocious crime is called a notorious crime, public or secret!" "The goodness of your intercepted packets, you writ to the Pope against the King; your goodness, since you provoke me, shall be most notorious." Shakspeare. |