Barnack Rectory
near Stamford

May 9^th 1832

Dear Talbot

There is a gentleman now residing at Stamford, who would be glad to take such a curacy as Lacock – He is a friend of mine; and brother to the Vice Provost of Eton: you will infer that he is elderly, about fifty – he is married and without children – a gentleman, and a good scholar –

I can promise that from M^r Roberts you would have no such vagaries in the Pulpit as those you mention in your last letter –

M^rs Roberts is a charming and very superior lady, very fond of schools, visiting the Poor, &c &c –

M^r Roberts is going to take the Sunday duty of Luffenham after the two next Sundays, till I can enter upon that curacy in August. M^r R. will be in town early next week, at the Gray’s Inn Coffeehouse, Holborn: and should you think it worth your while to plant my friends at Lacock in M^r Paley’s ^<1> room, perhaps you would ask M^r Paley, either to write to M^r Roberts or to communicate through you, and (if you think well) through me also –

Before M^r Roberts could take so distant a cure, he of course wishes to know whether the curate would be licensed; the stipend, population, and duties – and whether M^r Paley could hold out a hope of its being permanent, at least for the next three or four years – Should the answers to these queries be agreeable to my friends views, he would take go to see Lacock and speedily make up his mind whether he would take the curacy or not – Next week is the only opportunity M^r Roberts would have of taking so long a journey as into Wiltshire, for some time to come – which makes me request you to suggest to M^r Paley decision and promptitude –

Believe me, dear Talbot, (with much regret that our numerous little family prevents my accepting your kind offer of Lacock curacy)

very truly yours
Charles Porter

H. Fox Talbot Esq^re
31. Sackville S^t
London

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Notes:

1. Rev James Paley (1790–1863), Vicar at Lacock.