Confidential
The Vicarage
Whittlesey St Andrews
Peterborough
June 13
Dear Sir
I never expected to write again to you on personal matters, but my course as a literary man has been singularly unfortunate. I promise, however, that this appeal shall be the last. I have edited the Clerical Journal <1> for 12 years, & hope I have done much good by fostering literary & liberal tastes among the clergy. But I most imprudently, though with a pure motive, became coproprieter with the late publisher of that paper, & his recent failure compels me to pay his debts – more than 500£ – or have my living sequestered for that purpose. The trial is greater because family afflictions have made me poor. My only hope of escape is by the aid of friends, if you can be one of them I shall be grateful. I am
Dear Sir Yrs sincerely
Henry Burgess
I have received
Archbishop of Canty 10£
– York £5 – Dublin 5£
Bishop of Durham [10£?]
– Ely 10£
Bishops of Winchester, Worcester, Exeter, St David’s Lincoln, Cork, Carlisle 5£ each
Professor Selwyn 5£
Dean of Westminster 2£
Duke of Devonshire 10£
Lord Dartmouth 3£
J B. Cardale Esq <2> 3£
W E Gladstone Esq <3> 5£
Gathorne Hardy Esq 2£
Messrs A & C Black 5£
Canon Champneys <4> 1£
Henry Hoare Esq <5> 10£
Lord [Ebury?] 10£
Notes:
1. The Clerical Journal Almanac, edited by Henry Burgess.
2. John Bate Cardale (1802–1877).
3. William Ewart Gladstone (1809–1898) politician.
4. Probably William Weldon Champneys (1807–1875), Dean of Lichfield.
5. Probably William Henry Hoare (1809–1888).