Letter from Rev. W. H. Richards, Westridge, Nr. Ryde, to John H. G. Oglander, Nunwell,...

"I came across the other day an old letter of yours to me dated 1 January '84 in which you write "I am sure everyone must know that you have done more than your duty in endeavouring to establish a good understanding with my brother - you have some cause to congratulate yourself that although he may reject your advances in pompous language which only makes himself ridiculous he is without power to injure you. I wish his eccentricity were always as harmless, but I regret it exceeding and can well sympathise in your annoyance in having anyone in your parish so misguided, for I fear my brother is misguided by some idea of his own importance which amounts to delusion and this has been for many years the only excuse I could make for a good deal that he does and says, which brings down ridicule on him and in some cases causes real injury to others. Signed J. H. O. Glynn."

After he accepted my offer of friendship some years ago, in pompous language, I invited him to take some interest in the parish in money and time. His answer was all the money he had long taken an interest in and his time was taken up with his duties to the Crown. You may know that shortly after the late Bishop Thorold became Bishop of Winchester your brother wrote to him about the parish and he has done the same with the present Bishop in the same way. I have little doubt how he would describe himself. It is a long time ago, but I don't think I ever made use of your above letter or showed it to anyone.

P.S. A gentleman observed to me some little time ago "Mr. Richards, I wouldn't occupy your position in this parish for a thousand a year. I would rather live on bread and cheese than put up with what you have to put up with."

(102/600)