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Document number: 3279
Date: 11 May 1836
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: DE STARCK Henry George
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA36-28
Last updated: 30th July 2010

Fisherton Anger
May 11th 1835

Sir,

I beg to make many apologies for the liberty I am taking in writing to you, but I trust you will excuse it in consideration of the great importance of the subject to me.

It is with reference to this Living of Fisherton.<1> My Rector, Dr Nicholas, is beyond all hope of recovery. I have been here as his Curate, eight years, & within the last two, considerable improvements have been made at considerable expence, and I have reason to know & say that my Parishioners have a kindly & respectable feeling towards me. Should I, then, be taking too great a liberty in requesting, that if the Gentleman to whom you may propose the Living, should probably be not able to reside upon it, you wd be pleas'd to recommend me, as I shd be so very desirous of continuing as the Curate.

Should the Gentleman you propose be incapable by the recent Act of Parliament of holding it, with a second Preferment, a friend of mine wd be most willing to purchase the Presentation, ere the Doctor dies; I am not capable of judging of its value myself, but if you will have the goodness to give me an answer at your earliest convenience, I shall, in the meanwhile, be able to ascertain as much information on the Subject.

Again apologising for the liberty I have taken in writing for I heard yesterday in Chippenham <2> that you were from home,

I have the honour to be Sir Yr faithful Servt -
H:G: de Starck

To H.F. Talbot Esqr
Lacock Abbey
Nr Chippenham
Wilts
Mount Edgcumbe
Devonport


Notes:

1. Fisherton Anger, Salisbury, Wiltshire. WHFT had inherited the advowson (the right to present a new Rector to St Clement's Church) from his father, Davenport Talbot, and held it until 1849. The new Rector would enjoy the income and assets of the living, including the Rector's house. St Clement's was demolished in 1852 and parts of it were incorporated into the new St Paul's Church.

2. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.