Letter 1345

[fol. 169] Sr Upmr Jun 28 1708 Culverwell was with me on Saturday, & very pressing about his Floor, by readon his Rye grows ripe, & Harvest draws nigh. He saith that all the Floor was covered wth single Deals, but yt about 5 years agoe he was forced to pull up one part to mind the order, & that his Corn hath suffered much by it since, the clay floor being at some times of the year so soft as to suffer the impression of the feet, & fowleth all his corn threshed thereon; which I believe is true enough. The part uncovered is but 12 feet, which will not much en- hance the charge. I therefore ordered him to prepare for flooring the whole; & I suppose he will be in Lon- don with the Carpenter yt was with you, to buy the Deals on Monday next. The Joyce that are allready laid he saith will all do again, they having been well repaired not above 8 or 9 years agoe. So that your charge I lay thus. Nince Joyce each 12 feet long, at 3d p foot running Whose scantling shall be 4 inches one way & 5 ye other [GBP] s d 1 7 0 50 Double Deals at 2s or 2s-2d per Deal 5 0 0 Pin-wood, or what may happen more 0 3 0 The Carpenter (& Culverwell also promiseth the same) that if Any Deals be left unused they will take them off your hands & allow you for them the same they stand you in, for which reason they may perhaps buy more than 50. I should be glad that you would come the next week, & view it your slef, which if you do not, I you I told my imposing us are now laid to seem whole will sink under our feet, they are so rotten underneath, & grown so thin. Which seems probable e- nough by reason they are white Deals, & single (that is but an inch thick) & the floor earth under the floor damp. I shall be at home all the ensuing week, & ready any day to wait on you, all times to shew my self Sr Your much obliged, faithfull humble servt W Derham My humble service to your Lady. I hear since my writing this that Culverwell & the Carpenter cannot go to London to buy the Deals before next Fryday; therefore if you can come before you may order matters as they ought to be.