Fri 4 Jun 1869
To Strachan & Co, cloth manufacturers
Stroud
If you do not repair the culvert in time for the end of the stoppage, it will be removed at your expense. If water cannot be let in, you will be liable for stoppage of whole navigation.
Canal Office June 4th 1869
Messrs Strachan & Co delivered by J Cottle to Mr Strachan.
Dr Sirs, Your letter of yesterday to Mr Peyton the Surveyor of the SN has been handed to me.
Your letter appears to have been written under a misapprehension. The Culvert in question was only placed under the Canal by permission, for the accommodation of your Mill & is altogether on sufferance, & if you wish it to remain on the same terms as before you must at once repair it in a manner satisfactory to the Surveyor & such repairs must be entirely completed by Wednesday next when the Stoppage of the Canals will cease & the water have to be let in. If you should not repair it, it will be necessary for it to be entirely removed & for the banks to be made good & this should be done at your expense. No time should be lost in dealing with this matter as if the water cannot be let in on Wednesday next at 9 o'clock AM I must point out to you that you will be liable for damages for the stoppage of the entire Navigation which will be a very serious matter. As you will now see the true position of the business I feel assured no question of unpleasantness will arise.
N A Partridge, Clerk to this Co
