39 Maddon St
Thursday Friday Evg
Dear Talbot
I returned from Crawly's yesterday - On Monday I went to Lacock & called on Mr Paley. <1> He told me that not having heard from you for some time on the subject of curate, he had been trying to find an assistant who might take part of his duties, & teach his boys also; & this plan he seemed himself clearly to prefer tho I fancied I could perceive in the lady some little tendencies towards the Bath scheme - in reply I merely stated to him as a reason for calling what you had told me about the curacy adding that of course it lay entirely with himself to decided though I should be obliged by his letting me know his decision by letter, when he had done so -
I have felt since that he may fancy himself in some degree bound to give up his residence against his present wish in consequence of its having been offered to me: This I should be very sorry for, & the more so as then he may have pecuniary reasons against his Moving; and as I might easily find the professional practice I want for the time being elsewhere - Perhaps indeed it wd be rash in me before my own health is quite reestablished to undertake so large a parish. I forget what you stated the number at but he seemed to think between 1799 & 18. & I find the returns are thereabout The place is pretty & the house might be made a nice one by removing the parish Cottages & Adding a "small poble or pendicle" of garden ground behind - I shewed Crawly your house which he greatly admired. I had some notion of finding you there as Kerry told me you had your thitherward to an archery meeting <2> - What a Hans Liederlich <3> you are - I am about making an excursion with the law regions or I would call instead of write.
Yours Ever
Worsley
Saturday Morng
Friday morning
Notes:
1. Rev James Paley (1790-1863), Vicar at Lacock.
2. Possibly a meeting of The Selwood Foresters, an archery society and social club that attracted wealthy members and held regular archery competitions.
3. He probably meant: 'you talk like a lecherous person'. The phrase occurs in the famous street scene, Goethe's Faust, Part I.