Item 1823/2 - Letter from Rev Robert Forby to William French

Letter from Rev Robert Forby to William French, written from Stokeferry, Norfolk. States that he has received a letter written by Arthy following an interview between him and French. He copies out what Arthy wrote in the letter to him in which Arthy said that by the vilest acts and a thousand promises I had reduced her body and mind. Forby then declares that only some members of the Parish family were respectable. He states that no intimacy ever existed between Arthy and Parish and that Arthy could not be the father. Forby says of Parish 'The young woman's great and notorious looseness of conduct for many years part (she is now in her 28th year) and her almost inreparable and exclusive intimacy with low wenches of the most depraved and public characters, make it totally incredible'. Apparently everyone who knows both families believe it was Mariah who was the seducer, not Arthy. Apparently the ruination of the family was caused by one of the sons with the other son strenuously trying to retrieve the lost fortune. Also states that the baby died soon after it was born. He accuses Mary Parish of abusing the Arthy family with bad language on a Sunday as his parishioners were entering and then leaving church. He declares that due to other commitments he won't be able to visit the Masters Lodge at Jesus to explain everything in person.