TO THE
PARISHIONERS OF LEOMINSTER.

FELLOW TOWNSMEN,

There was a letter in the Hereford Times, of last week, from the Rev. George Albert Rogers, in answer to one by Mr. Edw. Manwaring, respecting the allotments of Land. Now this I know little about, but I am glad I hold none under such tenure.

The Rev. Gentleman however afterwards states that HE FOUND NO SCALE OF FEES when he first came to this Parish, which statement is a direct falsehood. Having lived in the Parish upwards of fifty years, and often working in the Church-yard, I well know what fees were formerly paid; and these same fees were continued by the Rev. G. A. Rogers for a short time after he came. The Sexton kept a book with the scale of fees written and signed by the late Rev. George Woodhouse, for whom he (the Sexton) used to collect these said fees. This book was the Sexton's guide in such cases, and was open for any one to inspect, that had Grave-stones, Tombs, Vaults, or Brick Graves to place in the Church-yard. There was a copy of the same scale of fees kept in the Vestry for any one to see. Now the Rev. G. A. Rogers obtains this table of fees from the Sexton, and orders any others to be removed. He prepares his own extortionate scale, and then tells us there was no scale of fees when he first came.

He also states that he had the assistance and sanction of Mr. Bluck, Churchwarden, for what he did. This is a poor subterfuge, for we well know that Mr. Bluck was a mere cipher in the hands of the Vicar, and Mr. Bluck ought to have been ashamed to have assisted in such ex-tortions. Now there was also a Mr. Edwards, a Churchwarden, at the same time; why was not he consulted as well as Mr. Bluck? Because he would not lend his hand to such a dirty job.

Now the Rev. Gentleman did not tell you in his letter what the fees are that he now demands, but I will show you the difference between the charge of the present and the late Vicar.

In the Rev. George Woodhouse's time we paid 2s. 6d. for a single Grave-stone, and 5s. for a double one, 3 feet wide. Now this Rev. Gentleman has the modesty to demand one guinea for a single Grave-stone, and two guineas for a double one, being above eight times as much as his predecessor. Mural Monuments he charges in the same proportion.

Now the fee is two guineas for a square foot of land, or eighteen for a square yard, which I will now prove. Supposing a Grave-stone to be 3 feet wide, 4 inches thick, and put into the ground one foot; it only occupies one square foot; and many not being more than 3 inches thick, do not take a square foot.

With respect to the Burial fees, both the Rev. F. Coleman, and the Rev. Geo. Woodhouse, charged 3s. 6d. for children and paupers. Now the Rev. G. A. Rogers demanded 11s. 6d. for paupers, which the Board of Guardians refused to pay, and very justly too, so the worthy Gentleman was forced to accept the usual fee or go without any, altho' the new scale of fees, was so sanctioned. The burial fees for other persons, used to be 5s. with 5s. additional for the first person of a family, but not afterwards continued. The demand is now 11s. 6d. for any common grave. Yet we are told that the Rev. Gentleman studies to promote the benefit of the working classes; my readers must judge for themselves whether such is the case.

The fees for Vaults, Tombs, &c., are enormous, but as these are for the more wealthy portion of society, I shall not dwell upon them, as my object is merely to show the Rev. Gentleman's *charity* and *benevolence* towards the working classes, and to prove that Pounds, Shillings, and Pence, are his main object, and that it is *yours* not *you* that he feels an interest in.

I am, Fellow Townsmen,

Your obedient Servant,

JOHN HUXLEY.

Leominster,
March 20th, 1849

P. S. I am told that the paragraph which caused Mr. Manwaring's letter was furnished to the newspapers by Messrs. Woolley. Will Messrs. Woolley deny that it emanated from the Vicar himself?

LEOMINSTER: PRINTED BY J. V. CHILCOTT, BROAD STREET.