"Mr. TRIMMING, Same to same. "11th April 1801. "I beg of you to desire the parish-officers to give an answer in writing to the Trustees, as you cannot lay a verbal answer before them when we obtain that, we will consult what is most proper to be done. In the mean time, we must let the taxes remain and if you cannot take boarders we must LET the house, and give you the benefit of it, or shut it up; but I should suppose it will let well! "Yours, "SIR, Same to same. "8th November 1801. "I here send Richard Hall the last five of his twenty pounds, and I enclose his receipt. You will be so good to enter it in the books and keep this receipt with the others. (Signed) "W. JOLLIFFE." "11th April 1802. Hylton Jolliffe, Esq. M.P. to same. "MR. TRIMMING, "I am extremely sorry you did not mention these notes being in circulation when I was at Petersfield, as you might easily believe that the bankers would not honour a draft signed by W. Jolliffe two months after his death without first receiving my orders. I beg you will send an account of the drafts, payable to whom, their dates and amount. "I am, Sir, your's obedient, "H. JOLLIFFE. --"Direct St. James's Coffee House, London". Same to same. "MR. TRIMMING, "Any person, having drafts on Churcher's College account, taking them to Messrs. Hammersleys and Co. Pall Mall, will have them paid. "Yours, "26th April 1802. (Signed) "H. JOLLIFFE.” Same to same. “ MR. TRIMMING, January 2d 1803. "Some weeks ago I directed you would send me an account of the expenditure of the College from the year 1801; I have never received it, therefore hope you will send an answer by return of post. "Your obedient servant, "Merstham. "HONOURED SIR, Mr. William Trimming, to Hylton Jolliffe, Esq. M.P. "Petersfield, 4th Jan. 1803. "Herewith I transmit you the last year's Expenditure of the College. "When you were at Petersfield I only understood the College accounts were to be collected against your next coming. I am sorry I did not comprehend your pleasure; if I had, I truly would have done it. "Should you be down within a fortnight, with an intent to * Post, p. 109-110. hold a meeting, please to favour me with a letter: otherwise I may not be at home, having business in the country that will take me some days, but will wait your coming should you be at Petersfield within the said time. "I remain, honoured Sir, "Your most obedient humble servant, (Signed) "A summary Account of the Expenditure on Churcher's College, from Christmas 1801 to Christmas 1802: " £146 6 11" Hylton Jolliffe, Esq. to Mr. Trimming. "MR. TRIMMING, "7th January 1803. "I am sorry you did not understand me; what I desired was, that you would send me the total expenditure of every year specifying every year from 1784, and the receipts to the last settlement. I have returned the abstract. "Yours, "HYLTON JOLLIFFE." (Signed) Same to same. "Mr. TRIMMING, "St. James's Coffee-House, "22d April 1803. "I desire you will send me the date of the Trustees that were chosen in the room of Mr. Tullie and Hart, and whether Mr. Tullie and Hart vacated by death or resignation. I request it may come by return of post. "Yours, "H. JOLLIFFE." (Signed) Same to same. "SIR, "Merstham, 5th Feb. 1804. "I cannot conceive any objection to John Brewer being taken as your apprentice, you will therefore get the indenture prepared. "I am in hopes that Mr. T. S. Jolliffe will be soon in town, when HE will give a power for the money to be received, and a meeting will be called for immediately. "I am your obedient servant, "H. JOLLIFFE." Same to same. "MR. TRIMMING, "23d July 1804. "I have not the least objection to William Newland being apprenticed to Mr. Bettesworth, shoe-maker. You will therefore prepare the proper documents for the purpose. will send it to Mr. Dunn, Lincoln's Inn, London; likewise the (Signed) Same to same. "MR. TRIMMING, "Merstham, 17th June 1805. "You will prepare the proper documents to bind James Maunder to Mr. Hedgler, carpenter; if the parties are content. 66 Yours, cr "MR. TRIMMING, Clarges Street, 13th June 1809. "You may prepare the usual engagements for William James, apprenticed to Mr. Wilks, of Portsmouth. I am sorry to find that so few are apprenticed in the parish of Petersfield: I hope you will be able to procure the next in the town. "Yours, "H. JOLLIFFE." (Signed) Sáme to same. "MR. TRIMMING, "9th October 1813. "I will hold a meeting of Churcher's College, on Tuesday next, at two o'clock. “MR. TRIMMING, "I shall be at Petersfield on Monday next, at eleven o'clock, when I shall hold a meeting of the Trustees; and I desire your attendance, with the books and Act of Parliament. Mr. Trimming, in obedience to the last letter of Mr. Hylton Jolliffe, made the usual arrangements, for the approaching meeting of the Trustees, but he had not the least notice of their intention, to dismiss him from his situation, until he was sent for by Mr. Hylton Jolliffe on that day. It is evident, that for some private motives connected with the Borough, and which seem, in the town, to be well understood, the Trustees, or some of them, had preconcerted the dismissal of this respectable individual; as Mr. Thomas Samuel Jolliffe, and the Rev. William John Jolliffe, who were at a distance, had previously been written to, and their answers were produced at the meeting, acquiescing in the appointment of another Master. When Mr. Trimming was desired to walk into the room where these Trustees were assembled, he was informed that they had appointed another Master in his stead, and the following entry in the College book was read to him: "Churcher's College, Monday, 13th Feb. 1815. "Ordered, that it appearing to the Trustees a desirable object, that Mr. Trimming should relinquish the situation of Master, but taking into consideration his long services, have allowed him to retire upon a pension of 201. per year, to be deducted out of the Master's salary, and to appoint in his room Mr. Geo. Dusautoy, of the Borough of Petersfield, who is to take possession Midsummer-day next. "Two letters were produced, one from T. S. Jolliffe, Esq. and the other from the Rev. Wm. J. Jolliffe, acquiescing in the appointment. (Signed) "HYLTON JOLLIFFE. Mr. Hylton Jolliffe, it appears, expressed himself sorry for what had happened, and said, that he and his brother would do what they could for Mr. Trimming. The Trustees, however, would not inform him, in what manner he had offended them, nor would they hear him in his defence; because they well knew they could not support any charge against him, not even that of letting the College to lodgers, without their consent, as it is notorious he did it with their entire sanction. Mr. Trimming not being allowed to speak his sentiments at the meeting of the Trustees, directly afterwards wrote to Mr. Hylton Jolliffe the following Letter, which, though firm, is couched in the most respectful and submissive language, and will serve to shew the uprightness and candour of his conduct, as well as the goodness of his heart : Mr. William Trimming to Hylton Jolliffe, Esq. "HON. SIR, «Feb. 1815.. Having been Master of Churcher's College nearly 20 years, and fulfilled my duty diligently and most conscientiously to the utmost of my ability, I cannot but feel the greatest mortification at my removal. Had my own mind accused me of being guilty of any crime, inattention, or negligence in my duty, I should have quitted the situation with a consciousness of my having deserved the mortifying degradation. I fear the world will conjecture, that I must have committed some great fault, or that I should not, after nearly 20 years' service, have been turned adrift to seek my living elsewhere. "You have been pleased to say that I should have your interest and recommendation to some other situation. This, hon. Sir, is, in some measure, consoling to my feelings, because it serves to shew, that you yourself cannot think me entirely undeserving; but I am apprehensive that my dismissal will raise conjectures in the neighbourhood unfavourable and injurious to my character; this preys much on my spirits, and injures my health. g I fear I must have some secret enemy who has traduced me, but who has not the courage to accuse me openly, knowing I should be acquitted, and himself confounded. "When the children were examined some time since by the Trustees, I had the happiness to receive the thanks of the Trustees, conveyed to me in terms most flattering to my feelings, and the children were rewarded by them, on account of their improvement under my care. This was, indeed, the height of happiness, and the best reward for an honest man. How am I now fallen! how am I now degraded without my knowing why, and without my being able to state to my anxious enquiring friends the cause of my ruin! Under these mortified feelings, I humbly presume to address you, and to express my hopes, that if I have been deemed guilty of crime, or fault, deserving of so great a punishment as now awaits me, I may at least be informed what I am accused of a privilege which is not denied to the greatest criminal. If I have not been so guilty, I humbly, but most earnestly, entreat, that the Trustees will do me the justice to state my innocence under their hands, and give it me as my passport in the world to some other situation, wherein I can earn my daily bread. My character is dearer to me than my life, for without it I cannot wish to live. "The Trustees were so good as to say I should have an annuity, which, I pray, honorable Sir, may be made secure to me before I quit, and that my accounts may soon be settled; and I take the liberty of asking leave to take up those fruit trees in the autumn, which I myself planted at my own expence, or that my successor may be required to pay me for them. (Signed) "I am, &c. &c. A few days after the meeting of the Trustees, the following letter was addressed to a relation of Mr. Trimming, by an individual, who had an intimate knowledge of The Jolliffe Family, and had been for many years, closely connected with them, in the management of the Borough and the College. "16th February, 1815. Having heard a dark, mysterious affair relative to Churcher's College, I have made enquiries respecting it-Your brother is much distressed: he confirmed all I had heard. It appears that Mr. Jolliffe on Monday last, made his appearance suddenly in Petersfield, sent for your brother to the Dolphin Inn, received him most graciously; but almost directly told him the Trustees thought proper to dismiss him from his situation of Master of Churcher's College.-Jolliffe was asked the reason of the accusation, and the names of his accusers; all in vain-Poor Trimming begged and prayed to be allowed to defend himself-all to no purpose. After a while Jolliffe said he (your brother) had taken lodgers; which was an injury to the town. An order was made and signed by three Commissioners (there ought to have been four) for dismissal.-Letters were read from two absent Commissioners, signifying their consent. It appears that the meeting was no meeting for deliberation; but the measure adopted had been preconcerted and predetermined. Also, which can leave no doubt, a person stood at the door-was admitted, and instantly chosen Master, in the room of your brother: so you see, here is no regard paid to appearances, to form, or decorum, the only reason given is, the Trustees thought proper to do so, endeavouring to shelter themselves under a discretionary power. The Trustees after de |