L30/11/301/20

Letter from Charles H Ware, Gray's Inn, to Amabel, Baroness Lucas. [Typed transcript.]

2 Aug 1799

From: 1799 To: 1799

Madam, This being the first day for the delivery of the Orleans pictures I have paid for, by draft, on Messrs Hoare Ltd according to your Ladyship's order, the four pictures you purchased and seen them safely deposited in St.James Square. I have placed then in the room in which the harpsichord stands, out of reach of the sun and I think in no danger of any other injury. Mr Bryan informs me the proprietors have sold to the amount of thirty four thousand pounds; some remain unsold, for which a person has made an offer now under consideration. The pictures retained by the proprietors are not reckoned in the sum I have mentioned: indeed Mr B says the pictures retained are worth forty thousand pounds and, in his judgement, though the purchase has thus proved beneficial, the prices of the pictures have been set below their value and amongst the cheapest he reckons your Ladyship's Titian. I inclose Mr Mourgue's receipt. He says the field your Ladyship enquired about is not at liberty, an as to a lease of the field now occupied by your Ladyship he says if you will be pleased to make any specific proposal he will procure Mr Lewis' answer. Mr Lewis, it seems, thinks if he grants a lease he should have a greater rent, as without binding himself at any time, he could let any quantity of land at the same or even a greater rate than your Ladyship pays. A small increase of rent would not be an object to your Ladyship and an ill-natured act with respect to this field might at a future period give him uneasiness. I should therefore in the same situation not hesitate, at a moderate advance, to purchase the security of it's convenience. Mr Mourgue believes the rent for the field now paid is 1o guineas per annum. It might be worth while to offer as a premium £15 or £20 and to give, if required, even a larger sum, for a lease at the present rent, and I think this would be better than to offer an increase of rent. On the other side I send the form in which your Ladyship may authorise me to draw on Messrs Hoare & Co. for the next instalment of the income tax due the 5th instant. I have the honour to be, Madam, your Ladyship's obliged and faithful humble servant, Chas. H Ware. P.S. I should have mentioned that Mr Lewis when he was before spoken to about the field said he could not decide unless some proposal came from your Ladyship, and Mr M. now mentions this as a reason for requiring something specific to be offered.' On reverse: 'Gentleman, I have desired Mr C H Ware my agent to draw on my account with you the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds; you will be pleased therefore to answer his draft for that sum. To Messrs Hoare & Co.'

item

Ware, Charles H,
Lucas, Amabel, Baroness,
Hoare's Bank,
Bryan,
Titian,
Mourgue,
Lewis

paintings, estates correspondence, Westminster St.James Square, agricultural leases, Income Tax, bank accounts