Item 56 - Letter from Benjamin Wyatt to Mr Hustler

1 item, paper

Letter from Benjamin Wyatt to Mr Hustler. From London 23rd July 1821.
The letter addresses the Bernasconi case. He explains that even though he thinks that they have concluded that Wyatt will probably never give his conclusions on the Bernasconi case, it has always been his intention and wish to discharge the trust which has been placed in him. He says he should have done all that was required of him long ago, and he apologises.
He reports that in the former report to him, he concluded that an abatement of £119 2s 1¾d ought to be made to W Bernasconi, but in his late investigation of the account, he has had the fullest and most complete evidence which he could do to enable him to correct all errors in his calculations, and to arrive at a conclusive and infallible decision. The result is that instead of an abatement of £119 2s 1¾d, it is £138 11s 4¼d.
He feels it is incumbent upon him to state most clearly that Bernasconi is not to blame in this situation; the overcharge has arisen from his error. It was from not having sufficiently distinguished between the time in a day worked and that upon measured worked, so that a great part of the time was brought into account twice over, without Bernasconi (or probably anyone) being aware of it.
Wyatt says he has explained to Bernasconi the result of his investigation, and he is perfectly satisfied that it is just.
He pleads for him not to attack Bernasconi, for he is convinced that he was ignorant of the real circumstances of the accounts. The reduction above makes the gross amount of his bill £264 8s 3½d, of which he has already received an amount of £240, meaning he is owed £24 8s 3½d.
He also has enclosed a small bill which he shall have to pay for the time bestowed on the calculations connected with the examination of this account, because although he is happy to give any of his own labour to the college, he is persuaded that he should pay out of his own pocket for the purpose.