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'I cannot send you the accompanying official letter without
a warmer expression of thanks for all your kindness than would
befit a document which may to a certain degree be made
public. You, I know, will understand the feeling, and, perhaps,
pity the weakness which makes me resign the hospital. I am not
made of calibre strong enough to withstand public attack. Were
I convinced that I stood on ground perfectly firm, that I was
certainly justified in taking eight hundred a year under Hiram's
will, I should feel bound by duty to retain the position, however
unendurable might be the nature of the assault; but, as I do
not feel this conviction, I cannot believe that you will think me
wrong in what I am doing.
'I had at one time an idea of keeping only some moderate
portion of the income; perhaps three hundred a year, and of
remitting the remainder to the trustees; but it occurred to
me, and I think with reason, that by so doing I should place
my successors in an invidious position, and greatly damage
your patronage.
'My dear friend, let me have a line from you to say that you
do not blame me for what I am doing, and that the officiating
vicar of Crabtree Parva will be the same to you as the warden
of the hospital.
'I am very anxious about the precentorship: the archdeacon
thinks it must go with the wardenship; I think not, and, that,
having it, I cannot be ousted. I will, however, be guided
by you and the dean. No other duty will suit me so well,
or come so much within my power of adequate performance.
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