Chapter IV

_The Laurels,
Putney Heath, S. W.
November 9._

DEAR DOCTOR MILLS,

I enclose five guineas and a subscription for your new church. I
confess that I do not clearly see what advantage this expenditure
will do me, and I should have some hesitancy in setting down in
black and white my reasons for sending you the money at all.
Your style of preaching is monotonous, your doctrines (if they
are really your doctrines) are particularly offensive to me; and
after all we could get along perfectly well with the old church.
At bottom I think this kind of thing is a sort of blackmail; you
know I cannot afford to have my name left out of your subscription
list, and probably the same motive is causing many another
sensible neighbour of mine to part most reluctantly with a portion
of his property. Perhaps the best way out of it would be to form a
sort of union and to strike all together against your exactions;
but I cannot be at the pains of wasting any more time upon the
matter, so here's your five guineas and be hanged to you!

Very faithfully and respectfully yours,
JOHN ROE.