Nicholas Clagett, Dean of Rochester 1723-1731
A Sett of Black Bays Covering for the Altar.
An Old purple velvet covering for the Altar.
Five Hassocks.
A flaskett [a shallow basket] to carry the plate.
One Diaper Communion Table Cloth and Two Napkins.
Reverend Sir
I returned to London on tuesday last from my journey into Hampshire. I could not at this time go to Salisbury as I intended, for the small-pox is so much there at this time & carries off, as they say, so many, that my friends in Hampshire were utterly against my venturing to go to a place so very sickly. I spent a few days at Winchester. Your acquaintance Dr. H. Clark was then as I heard, at my Lord Limingtons (sic) & I did not see him in that country. Since I return'd to London I received the favour of your letter of the 13th and am glad to hear that our ceiling is so advanced. My stay in town at present is very short (for I set out too morrow morning for Althorp) and I have not yet had any opportunity of consulting those who are more knowing than myself about the properest way of finishing the ceiling when the woodwork is all put up. But however, as you seem to desire, I will send vou my present way of thinking about it. I do not know but the painting the circle, square, & ribs all of a stone colour may be setting them off to the best advantage. The whole square under the bells will then be one beautiful piece of a plainer kind of work. It is a central piece & perhaps for that reason need not be coloured at all as the north & south cross isles of each side of it. What inclines me at present to this way of thinking is, that Mr James" propos'd to us, I remember, to have the circle & square done in mortar (or stocko (sic) & then I should think his meaning must have been that the work should be left in its natural colour, ie, the stone colour. But as you very rightly observe, it is a thing of consequence to finish a piece in the right way which is such an expence to us & which we intend to be an ornament to the fabrick. And for that reason it may not be amiss to defer our coming to any resolution till I see you here in London where I suppose you will shortly be. I purpose, God willing, to be in London again on thursday in the next week. If it were not too much trouble I should be glad you would be so kind as to take the plan of Mr Chichley" when he has done with it & bring it with you to London, that we may have Mr James' sentiments about it. If it shall be thought right to paint the woodwork all of a free-stone colour perhaps Mrs Proby's who did the south cross isle may be well employd doing body style.
But in this, so the work be but well done (which is what I am chiefly concerned for) I hope my observations wil do & what part of the plan is to be coloured if not the whole, Mr James will easily and readily inform us. I wish I had reced yr letter before tuesday last for then I met him accidentally in Egham, & could have talkd with him about it. If Dr. Grant's be with you, you will oblige me in making him my compliments.
1am, Reverend sir, your affectionate brother &c very humble servant
N Clagett
London Oct 17, 1731
The above letter was addressed on the outside
To the Reverend Dr Denne
Archdeacon of Rochester
at his house in Greenwich Hosp
Reverend Sir
1 should have been heartily ashamed to have deferred answering the favour of yrs so long had you not intimated to me that I might do it at my leisure, and I do solemaly answer you, the tis now near a mouth ago I have never had the least time to consider of yours, till yesterday.
In the first place I fully agree with you that the whole should be painted of a stone colour by which I do not mean a white but a colour Something inclining to that of Cream. Then as for the Ornamental part Tis certain that the work would very well bear Gilding in ye ovolos of the bed moldings, and the Small flowers of the Golop [Colpe a roundel of purple colour) in ve Square Soffile, as also upon the Edges of the Oak leaves in the Circular Soffile |soffit the under horizontal face of an architrave or overhanging cornice of a ceiling, but as you rightly observe this would render it more rich than any part of the ceiling of the Choir which I think should not be. I am of opinion that if you guild the four flowers upon the Corner of the outer Square and perhaps the Pendant piece in the Center of ye whole (the fluting of it at least) it will Suffice..
Yours &c., hn James
The Very Reverend
Dr Clagett Dean of Rochester at Rochester in Kent.'
David A. H. Cleggett
Conversion of St. Paul 2004
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