Private
The Vicarage,
Whittlesey, St Andrew’s,
Peterborough
July 19th
Dear Sir
My long literary course of hard labour has come to a crisis which compels me to ask the aid of those who know me. Blindness set in four years ago, but by a good memory, and a strong effort I have been able ever since to perform all my clerical duties, and by the hand & eyes of another have continued to write for the Press. But this has proved too much for my powers, and symptoms of cerebral derangement warn me to abstain from mental excitement. But I am too poor to pay another to do my work, and as the Curates Societies do not assist cases like mine, I am compelled to ask the assistance of those who like yourself know something of the character of my past life. Hoping for your sympathy & aid,
I am dear Sir
Yours faithfully
Henry Burgess
per E.B.
H. F. Talbot EsqrI have received the following
The Duke of Devonshire <1> £10
Bishop of Durham <2> £10
J. W. Childers Esqr <3> £10
Duke of Westminster <4> £5
Master of Trinity <5> £5
Dean of S– Paul’s <6> £2
Bishop of Llandaff <7> £3
Earl of Dartmouth <8> £5
W. E. Gladstone Esqr <9> £2
Rev. H. O. Cox (Bodleian £1.
<attached: printed notice of two books by Burgess: The Reformed Church of England in its Principles and their legitimate Development: A Contribution to the Settlement of existing controversies, with 14 extracts from critical notices; and Essays, Biblical and Ecclesiastical, relating chiefly to the Authority and the Interpretation of Holy Scripture, with a list of subjects; also a list of subscribers to the two vols.>
Notes:
1. Sir William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790–1858).
2. Charles Baring (1807–1879), Bishop of Durham (1861–1879).
3. Possibly related to Hugh Culling Eardley Childers (1827–1896), statesman.
4. Sir Hugh L. Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster (1825–1899).
5. William Hepworth Thompson, Master of Trinity College (1866–1886).
6. Richard William Church (1815–1890), Dean of St. Paul’s (1871–1890).
7. Alfred Ollivant (1798–1882), Bishop of Llandaff (1849–1882).
8. William Walter Legge, 5th Earl of Dartmouth (1823–1891), MP for South Staffordshire.
9. William Ewart Gladstone (1809–1898), statesman and author.