263 



assignees, subsequently instituted against the Company, when 

 in his pleadings he alleged that the Committee made him drunk, 

 at the Swan Inn, at Stroud, before he signed this agreement ; 

 an allegation, which of course had no real foundation. 



Jones the contractor, seems to have been unequal to the 

 execution of the work which he had undertaken. He was 

 constantly in custody at Bisley, or Minchinhampton, or in 

 Gloucester Gaol, where in the spring of 1788 he was detained for 

 10 weeks : the works at the Tunnel being in progress, and very- 

 far from completion. Some idea of the sort of man Jones was 

 may be formed from the following letter, which he addressed to 

 the Canal Company's Manager, Mr. Smith, on his coming out 

 of Gloucester Gaol, in 1785 : 



Mr. Smith, Sir, 



This is to Let you Know that I Left Glouster the Last night about 

 half-past Six O'clock— I Gave Single Bale and Then Spasol Baile— 

 DiiicUy— To the Ashon— so Know I Shall he advised by you what more 

 to Do— in This matter- but I Think if we Could Get Lawden To a faire 

 Setteling would be the Bast— But youl hear what Mr. Perrey says in His 

 Letter on wensday Nax, and Then Please to Let me Know— Lawen and His 

 attorney would very fain have had me To have Ordered it another way but 

 would not— Lawden Dust not Star one Inch out of the Settey, if he had he 

 would have Been Taken into Custety— but I sopese the Folch Devel Node 

 That— I should be very Glad if you would Take the Truble to wright a fue 

 Lines to Mr. Gabson the attorney and Let him Know the Tru State of 

 Lawden's affaires— for Prue and him has Tould Mr. Gabson aU the Dambs 

 Lyles that Could be Formed by men, and for want of Being Better Informed 

 he believed Them— I have Been Thrue the works This Day and we want 

 Lime at Both ends— please to Send Sum as Soon as posoble you Can, 



from Sir your most Humbl Servt. 

 Coates Janry 23th— 1785- CHAS. JONES— 



Sir, 

 P.S.— Know I want sum BiUs to be paide off— mch I Hope you wiU be so 

 Kind as to make it None to the Gcntlem and Let me have Sum money in a 

 very Short Time— as I may not be hald and maid in This manor, for it is 

 eneff to make amen go Quite mad and of is sances, my Paseshons is Quite 

 wore out, with every Body Stating and Taroing at me— Just Like a Pack of 

 Dogs after a haire— I have Paide a vest Deail more Money THl I have 

 Eeced, but it is the Contery the Grates Paii, wich must be Paide to Them 

 again or, I can have no Content at all for I am all ways uneasey about it, 



