Item 19 - Letter from John Joseph Mechi to Richard Monckton Milnes

1 folded sheet and 1 single sheet.

Tiptree Hall, nr Kelveden, Essex. - He and Mr Hawkins, Sir Morton Peto's representative, met two members of the Whittington Club Committee on Monday. Outlines financial position of the Club. 'As it is quite clear they cannot raise the number of subscribers & must therefore lose £600 p annum they have wisely determined to wind up - but a certain number of members desire to continue it... on the principle of an ordinary club'. Has told them this will be no use unless a hundred of them will agree to contribute £15 annually until they have increased to a sufficient number'. Sees 'no immediate risk' of the Trustees needing to pay, as theirs is a prior claim, and if the lease were to be sold by auction it should realize £3000. 'You will see by the Enclosed [no longer present] that they have a happy (?) knack of getting supplies without incurring a responsibility. You & I could not do so'. Recommends the Committee to 'pay as they go or wind up & and close', which he thinks they will do. Will attend next meeting, look out for the Trustees' interests, and keep Milnes informed.

'Miserably wet weather' has had 'Farmers desponding [?] on the stiff clay'; can't complain, though the crops are not so good as last year; regrets that he could not join Milnes' 'pleasant party', hears he had an 'excellent meeting'; in his part of the world they have put off the partridge shooting for nine or ten days as the crops are still standing.