Horatio
 July 1

I waited impatiently during the next month for responses from any of my neighbours to my plans, as outlined at my party in late May. There were a few angry refusals - the most vitriolic one from John Dawson, who accused me of skull-duggery and of being an upstart incomer - trying to take over their part of the world and suggesting in very clear terms how he wished I would take himself and my la-de-da family back where we came from. He informed me that he already owns his house, which has been in the family for over 50 years.

Another rather negative response came from Mr. Lawence Howell, the publican and grocer at Lane Ends. He also felt there was much more to the suggestion that was implied at the meeting, and hoped that I knew what he was doing. He certainly was not interested in being a party to the plan. That was a pity, as I had hoped we could use his pub for future meetings of those interested.

Almost the full month had gone by when two letters came through our door. The first, and in very plain writing and using few words was from Squire Higgenbottom who was a local farmer. He implied that he might be interested and that he would like to know more about it.

The next, I was pleased to see, was from Mrs. Hannah Harrison, widow with certain funds available, and she also suggested that she might be interested, and wished to meet me to find out more. I smiled when I thought of seeing Hannah again, as she is very comely, and might be interested in more than just a business meeting. My wife, for all her beauty and breeding is not a warm woman - and feels that sexual relations are to be had as quickly and as infrequently as possible. But Hannah looked ripe for the picking, and no doubt is a lonely woman. And being the widow of Benjamin Harrison, who had an enormous farm for these parts of 80 acres, well, she certainly must have money to invest.

I decided to call a meeting of all the interested parties at this house on Friday evening in a week’s time which would make it July 10th. I will also invite the various business partners that I think might be willing to put up capitol for my lending association. And we need to have legal representation too, and those with financial understanding, so I will invite Robert Taylor, who has already indicated that he is willing to be part of the scheme, and his son Robert, who is his clerk.

Then there is Herbert Hoole, who I often have a drink with in the evenings. Herbert is a banker’s clerk, but he has a good business head on him. Joel Wainwright, somewhat of a local hero with the success of his published book about Marple, is a chartered accountant, and would prove invaluable as part of the team. 

I thought I would also invite the Calico Print Manager, John Edward Cochrane, and James Arden, as the manager of the Cooperative Society in Marple Bridge. They would give a reassurance to the others, who know them as honest men. 

Then I thought of my work colleagues and friends I meet through the men’s clubs I belong to. Henry Almond, for instance, from Manchester, has expressed an interest in the undertaking, as has James Massey, who works as an engineer in Romiley. John Froggart who has his own business, might be interested and his wife Sarah, so that Hannah won’t be the only woman present.  Arthur Pass, a friend whose head is full of ideas - as he is an inventor - also likes a firm business proposition and might be interested.

I will send out the invitations straight away, and then hopefully, the local people will realise that I am serious in my purpose, and will perhaps influence their more timid neighbours to consider the scheme again.

As far as the other part of my project went, I now wish I had never bothered mentioning it. There was a constant stream of grubby children coming to my door the first week after the meeting with bits of bent metal, nails and broken pots. Nothing of any interest or any value and they acted surprised and not at all pleased when I turned them away without a penny.

To further my cause I have sent out a letter of introduction to Lord Howard of Glossop, asking if I was right in assuming that the property would be available for purchase, and I had a reply very quickly from his business man, agreeing that the land is for sale, and that specific details would be forthcoming, when I made it clear what exactly we wished to purchase. He confirmed that the reason for the selling of the land was partly because Lord Howard is involved in building the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Norwich, a project he started twenty years ago, which has run into difficulties - and he needs extra funds to keep up the rather ornate ideas that his architects have put forward and are busy implementing. So the sooner the transaction is completed, the better from his point of view.

I had rather hoped I would have a personal letter back from Lord Howard, but I understand that he is a busy man, and that I will have to make do with his representative, in the form of his man of business. But I won’t involve the Howard officials just yet. I need to see how many I can interest, and although I am disappointed that so few locals have come forward, at least there is hope that more will follow in time when they see what an excellent scheme is on offer.

Louise informed me today that she and her mother and Alice, the French maid, will all be going to stay with friends in Prestwich for the month of August. I am expected to meet up with them there on weekends, but I might well have other fish to fry in the meantime. Blanche will still be coming here regularly to tidy the house and make my meals, and who knows what else might come of that.