John Feltham, Honiton, to Ozias Humphrey, No. 8 Queens Buildings, Brompton Row, near London, 14 December 1791.

Honiton 14.th De.r 1791

Dear Sir!

  I thank you for your obliging letter; M.r  Cleavelands History I have, and recollect to what you allude of M.r Bakers—But to a matter of higher import, your Health; I am glad you have assurance of the reestablishment of your Eyes to a proper vision, if the wishes of your friends could have affected it, you would not have waited so long—

         I am very well pleased in fulfilling your request, however insignificant you may deem my information respecting our improvements; which are at present so incomplete, as scarcely to allow me to hope they will answer your ideas, or prove entertaining—But to begin—

         A new road is made that begins opposite Rev.d M.r Tuckers, and joins the old London road, just above Shipley Lane, by a gradual bend, where it is terminated by a handsome Turnpike Gate, and House, in the Gothic style, with parapets, and covered with copper; the road is about 70 feet wide and with the new turf hedges on each side and being well made has a good effect, and presents you the vale of Honiton, in all its glory, with Capt.n Thos Graves’s Rev.d M.r Drewe’s and M.r Neales new Houses nearby in a paralell [sic] line before you, one above y.e other—a great treat; as by the old road, except when at the summit of the Hill, the hedges totally obscured the view—The South side of the street, that had a high bank of earth, is considerably altered, by its having been considerably lowered, and cut down perpendicularly several feet in, adding thereby an addition to the road proportionate nearly to the new road in width,-- but as it is still higher than y.e other side, a neat white railing with proper openings from the top, terminates opposite Stalts Corner, where the inequality comes to near nothing; the road is levelled, and from this corner is new pitched, from thence upward it used to be, but is now Turnpike only; From the lane opposite the old Meeting to near the Golden Lion, it is laid with Broadstone which is brought from Langsport in Somersets:e and costs 9d [a] foot down, which is taken out in deed Polls of £50 each, it is 6 feet wide, and the stone is much in appearance like that which paves Cheltenham; on the other side the broadstone commences only a little above M.r Guards, and has as yet reached only to New Street corner—The Cross, and Midsheet houses are down: the Shambles remain until a proper spot, and mean’s to get at it, are concluded on, for making a permanent market House and fixt shambles, with an assembly room over—The Black Lion is thought of at present for ye purpose—These therefore are all the new improvements—Our assembly at ye Lion monthly is well attended, and a card and dancing assembly once a fortnight is held at ye Dolphin—M.r Addington is going to make a Turnpike thro’ Upottery from Taunton to Honiton, to build a grand Hotel half way, and a House for himself, which being nearer than by Cullumpton, from Bath to Exeter most probably will bring more travelling through Honiton—And a Turnpike is spoken of from Culliton [Colydon?] to Honiton, by which means a direct communication with Lyme will take place—

         These alterations in the Town when finished will cost about £4000; they are certainly laudable, but there is a sort of fraud, tho’ sanctioned by parliam:t in saddling the public with tolls at y.e entrance & exit of the place, and laying no impost on the inhabitants who only reap the benefit—I forgot to say large common sewers are made at a great expence, and the benefit I think very inadequate in such a little place, where there was no real want of them—But I fear I tire, will therefore only repeat that I am Dear Sir Your obliged & most

                                             humble Servant

                                                         John Feltham

The weather has been so severe here, that last week two poor women on Horseback perished with the cold, on S.t Cyres Hill, in their way to Dunkerwell—Miss Peggy Putt with £2000 is going to wed young M.r Marker the Parson—Our curate a M.r Perkins is [thus?] singular; he won’t repeat the second Commandment: this is a Fact

P.S.  Molly, to whom I mentioned that I was going to write, begged me not to forget to present her duty—If when you have a Gala, I could make any addition to it, by sending a cannister of Devons clouted cream—I beg you will command me.—

Text:  MS. Montagu d. 7, fols. 174-75, Bodleian Library, Oxford; postmarked from Honiton, 16 December.