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Charles Williamson letter

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Charles Williamson letter

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No 10 Blanket Row, Hull

Sir,

In compliance to his Grace's directions, in your letter to Mr Rigby, I send my Testimonials, Nomination, Certificate of Baptism and the "Si quis" as early as possible: you will see by some of the papers I have passed most of my time in Cardiganshire in the Diocese of St David's, with a Clergyman of great erudition and respectability, author of a Dissertation on the Pelasgian Heresy, under whose instruction I remained from six to eight years, previous to my arrival at Hull; he has two livings besides other property: the second is likewise a pluralist and late fellow of Wadham College Oxford: the third is very much respected by all his acquaintance: if Dr Burgess is in town he will corroborate the truth of any assertions; if not, Dr Cleaver I believe will give you a high character of him i.e. John Williams of Ystrad meiru, if he is in Town; Dr Cleaver has ordained several of my schoolfellows with whom he was very well satisfied. I am very sorry that some of the papers are so much soiled, they have been dispatched from here to Wales and back again, which I hope will be a sufficient apology for their not being so clean as I could wish. It may possibly be agreeable to his Grace to have some account of me. My father was an inhabitant of London, an East India merchant of extensive business; a twelve month before my birth he went abroad where he died, leaving me to the care of four trustees, one of whom brought me over, I believe with most part of my property, to superintend my education; he married, we lived sumptuously, his effects were seized, himself cast into prison, his wife died, he is gone abroad a second time, and left me to myself.