274 ALTARNON CHURCH. 



But apart from the parish, chest, a packet of pamphlets and 

 papers, labelled " Heirlooms of the Vicarage," is valuable 

 and instructive ; comprising Mr. Ruddle's account-book, a terrier 

 and apportionment of the parish in 1613, sundry MS. letters of 

 Mr. Lysons, Dr. Olliver, and Dr. Bannister, and other documents, 

 as well as the researches of those who furnished answers to their 

 several questions. The present existence of such material as 

 this — collectively so helpful for the elucidation of local history — 

 is but one of many indications that the Vicars of Altarnon have 

 considered their office a post involving duties alike to previous 

 times and to posterity. Banishment from their fellowmen has 

 not resulted in that deplorable degradation of refined instinct 

 which protracted exile unhappily engenders in occasional 

 instances of the country clergy, — cases perchance more worthy of 

 pity than of censure ; but their aim has been to hand on their 

 trust in a condition at least as good as, if not better than, they 

 received it. And this aim has evidenced itself, not merely in 

 the custody of the church, with its riches of antiquity, but 

 even in such minute matters as the preservation of those papers 

 — addressed to themselves as individuals, and never public 

 property — which have considerably increased the facility whereby 

 the present paper has been written. 



