The palace, Barchester,—­December, 186-’

’Reverend sir,—­

(he left out the dear, because he knew that if he inserted it he would be compelled to write the letter over again).

’I have heard today with the greatest trouble of spirit, that you have been taken before a bench of magistrates assembled at Silverbridge, having previously been arrested by the police in your parsonage house at Hogglestock, and that the magistrates of Silverbridge have committed you to take your trial at the next assizes at Barchester, on a charge of theft.

’Far be it from me to prejudge the case.  You will understand, reverend sir, that I express no opinion whatever as to your guilt or innocence in this matter.  If you have been guilty, may the Lord give you grace to repent of your great sin and to make such amends as may come from immediate acknowledgement and confession, if you are innocent, may He protect you, and make your innocence shine before all men.  In either case may the Lord be with you and keep your feet from further stumbling.

’But I write to you now as your bishop, to explain to you that, circumstanced as you are, you cannot with decency perform the church services of your parish.  I have that confidence in you that I doubt not that you will agree with me in this, and will be grateful to me for relieving you from the immediate perplexities of your position.  I have, therefore, appointed Rev Caleb Thumble to perform the duties of incumbent of Hogglestock till such time as a jury shall have decided upon your case at Barchester; and in order that you may at once become acquainted with Mr Thumble, as will be most convenient that you should do, I will commission him to deliver this letter into your hand personally tomorrow, trusting that you will receive him with that brotherly spirit in which he is sent on this painful mission.

’Touching the remuneration to which Mr Thumble will become entitled for his temporary ministration in the parish of Hogglestock, I do not at present lay down any strict injunction.  He must, at any rate, be paid at a rate not less than that ordinarily afforded for a curate.

’I will once again express my fervent hope that the Lord may bring you to see the true state of your own soul, and that He may fill you with the grace of repentance, so that the bitter waves of the present hour may not pass over your head and destroy you.

’I have the honour to be,
Reverend Sir,
’Your faithful servant in Christ,
‘T.  Barnum’

(Baronum Castrum having been the old Roman name from which the modern Barchester is derived, the bishops of the diocese have always signed themselves Barnum.)