Yardley, near Birmingham, Sept. 12, 1825.
My dear Friend,
YOUR very kind and acceptable letter reached me three or four weeks
since; and I should have answered it much earlier had I not been in some
uncertainty as to my proximate movements; and I thought I would wait till
something definite should have transpired. I have been here very nearly
seven months, and was thinking of returning to Madeley in about a month
from the present time; but it is now arranged that we should continue
here till the middle of February. From what you mention in your letter,
I should suppose that you have been informed that I had left Madeley
altogether, but this is not the case; I have only _exchanged_ duties with
the vicar of this place, who has been, like myself, out of health for
some months past, and who thought that a complete change of sphere and
situation would prove beneficial to him. He and his family, therefore,
reside in the vicarage at Madeley, and myself and family here; both of us
having left our furniture, library, &c., &c., for each other’s
accommodation. The duties in this place being light, as compared with
Madeley, and the air exceedingly salubrious, I have found great benefit
from the change, and am pretty nearly as well as I was before I began to
fail; the whole of my family, also, have found their health considerably
improved; so that in this point of view we have reason to be thankful for
the exchange. And I hope, also, that the change of ministrations will be
beneficial to both our parishes. I hear of an increased attention being
produced at Madeley, and I ought to acknowledge with gratitude the
acceptance with which I am favoured here.
You mention in your letter that your engagement in your present curacy
will terminate early in 1827. I read that part of your letter to Mr.
Gwyther (the gentleman with whom I have exchanged duties), who was over
here a few days ago, and he said, “Could we not contrive between us to
keep the curacy open for Mr. C. till he should be able to take it?”
Our present arrangement will, if we are spared, bring us to the middle of
February, 1826, which is only a year short of the time when you will be
released from your present charge. Now, if we could manage so as to
supply till then, would you like to undertake the charge of the parish,
provided the incumbent would admit you, which, from what I have lately
ascertained, I think could easily be managed? Since I saw you I have
engaged with an assistant, but merely _pro tempore_; the expense of which
is to be principally borne by the parishioners. The sum allowed to him
will be £100 a year; towards which I myself give £30, on condition of
being occasionally absent, should my health require it, at the sea or
elsewhere. The value of my curacy is full £100 a year besides the house.
You will perceive, then, that matters are now made much easier for you,
should you think of fixing your lot among the Madeley people, and I am
confident that the arrangement would be highly gratifying to them.