North Curry Taunton
Septr 1st 1870
My dear Mr Talbot,
I hope to be at Lacock on Monday 12th inst: to wind up my affairs. I daresay you have heard from Mr Roach that I have requested him to remain in my place till Sept: 26th on which day I have asked him to clear out all his belongings, as I shall want to see what I have remaining, what I shall sell and what I shall remove. Mr Palmer has kindly invited me to come and stay with him. I should have liked to have been at the Harvest Festival as the last opportunity I should have had of meeting the greater number of my parishoners, but Mr Roach never sent me word till it was too late –
I have written to Mr W. Awdry to ask him to find out the process necessary to be gone through in resigning a living, a simple letter is not sufficient and I presume there must be fees to pay, as Bishop’s secretaries are fond of them. I heard from my mother a few days ago from Merthyrmawr. she seems pretty well, but I expect is rather over done with our cricketers as this is the time for the matches – Aunt Charlotte I have heard nothing of lately, she is not given to writing letters unless there is something particular to communicate. I have determined to take the curacy of Falmouth at least I go for three months to see how I like it, the pay is, only £120 but better curacies are difficult to hear of as they are so rare: when I came to enquire I found I have been giving Mr Roach just double what I had any necessity for: but one learns by experience.
Some plants were sent me from the Horticultural a few days ago, I hope you will accept them, as I shall have no where to keep them. I enclose you some seeds of the Steep Holme P œony gathered in my garden at Lacock last year –
Your aff Cousin
Edward P. Nicholl