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The Founders of Canterbury

Reigate, 15th March, 1850

Reigate, 15th March, 1850.

My Dear Wynter,

—When getting towards the end of the accompanying letter, it occurred to me that your shyness might induce you to wish to send it to the Bishop of Norwich, when writing to ask for an interview.

page 233

But it would be better for you to call, and send up your card. You might then give him my letter if you liked. Writing to ask for an interview would be too formal.

So, I kept what is to follow for a separate sheet.

FitzGerald has been here; and we have fully discussed the state of the Canterbury affairs, and what ought to be done. One of the first steps, in my opinion, after settling who is to be Bishop on Monday, would be, on Tuesday, for your Committee to make FitzGerald a member of it, so that in working at the Colonists' rooms he may have the weight which nothing but his being a member of your Committee can give him. As a mere salaried officer that is to be, he would have less weight than a pure colonist. I write about this to insure your support of the proposal, which may not be quite agreeable to everybody. But of course you won't say a word about me, whose interference is not quite agreeable to that same "every body," whom I do not very precisely know, and it would be better not to name if I did. At the worst, it is only a very common susceptibilité in the form of rejecting needful aid, lest it should look like prompting. The "aid" of an earnest, active, very clever man, like FitzGerald, is much needed in your Committee of—what shall I call them?—delightful amateurs.

I have spoken out to FitzGerald about Maddock, and the necessity of a single nomination—which he will promote with Godley's friends.

Pray, don't say I write to you: for the dislike of being prompted by me is an influenza just now at Charing Cross.

P.S.—It is far better that you should not mention me even to the Bishop of Norwich.